Red Lentil Quinoa Pilaf served with Meatball, Garlic Sauce, and Salad

quinoa meal
Bowls! by Molly Watson has inspiring delicious and healthy one-dish meal ideas. Each recipe in this book serves a family of four. I like the simple instructions and explanations that help us prepare an array of flavourful meals. It shows how we can use ingredients that we may have at home to put together a complete meal or a healthy bowl with vegetables, toppings, sauce, protein, and a base.
quinoa meal
I like that the author includes how a variety of different grains, beans and lentils, eggs, tofu, marinades, fish, chicken, vegetables and sauces can be prepared. We can use the combinations suggested by the author to make the meals, or use a variety of different recipes from the book to make a customized meal in a bowl.
quinoa meal
I adapted recipes from this book to customize this bowl that includes meatballs, red lentil quinoa pilaf, garlic sauce, and cucumber salad.
meatballs meal
For the meatballs
1 lb ground meat
1 onion
4 garlic cloves
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves optional
2 tbsp paprika
2 tsp ground cumin
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper optional
1 to 2 tbsp oil

I used a food processor and combined all the ingredients together. Then divided the mixture into about 20 small meatballs.
To cook the meatballs, heat a frying pan and over medium high heat add a tablespoon of oil. Add the meatballs and cook turning them as needed to brown and cooked through. 
Reduce the heat and add more oil if needed. I usually make sure the meat is cooked inside by covering the pan and keeping it in low medium heat, after the meatballs have browned on all the sides. 
For the red lentil quinoa pilaf
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup quinoa
2 garlic cloves
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes optional
1/2 cup red lentils rinsed
2 cups chicken broth

In a saucepan, over medium high heat add oil and the quinoa and stir until the quinoa is lightly toasted about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and pepper flakes and continue stirring until fragrant. Add the lentils and the broth and bring to a boil. Cover and turn the heat to low and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa and lentils are tender for about 20 minutes. Uncover and fluff with a fork. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.
garlic sauce
For the garlic sauce
1 head garlic
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1 cup canola oil

In a blender combine the garlic, lemon juice, salt until it is smooth, add the oil in a slow, steady stream until it blends with the garlic mixture and looks almost fluffy and similar to white sauce. Cover and leave it till the bowls are ready to be served. 
cucumber salad meal
For the salad
1 cucumber peeled, halved, seeded and chopped
1 cup tomatoes
1 tsp minced fresh mint
1 tsp rice vinegar
1 tsp olive oil
salt
1 tsp sumac optional to sprinkle over the bowls

Assemble the bowls when you are ready to eat. This meal can be enjoyed hot or at room temperature. 

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33 comments:

  1. The meal sounds very interesting! Not a fan of quinoa, but maybe I would eat up my meal if served this way...

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  2. Lovely post!

    So delighted to see your post and and its one of my fav comfort food!
    Keep sharing your best and look forward to your future creations and write ups.

    Thanks and much luv
    Sonia
    http://www.mycreativeflavors.com/

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  3. I do not usually buy mint but I would try it.

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  4. This is a great idea for new recipes.

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  5. That sounds so good. I never know how to serve the lentils. Time to start.

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  6. That’s a bowl of healthy right there...and delicious!

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  7. Debbie White BeattieFebruary 2, 2018 at 10:55 PM

    These recipes look really healthy but also really delicious and fairly easy to make.

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  8. This sounds like a great meal. I have never toasted my quinoa. I will try that next time I make it. Thank You for the tip.

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  9. The meatball recipe sounds delicious!

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  10. I like making lentil soup

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  11. Looks delectable. Who doesn't love meatballs?

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  12. I've been looking for alternative, healthy recipes. And I really like lentils. Thanks!

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  13. Yum! This looks so tasty. Thank you for sharing!

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  14. Those meatballs look good! I`ve never had quinoa before.

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  15. Looks like an interesting combination, thanks for sharing the recipe. (Judy Cowan)

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  16. This looks like an interesting dish. I like quinoa and this looks like a very healthy meal. I will share the recipe with my family and friends.

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  17. Some great recipes here. Mmmmmm

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  18. wow that looks absolutely delish! I have never had Lentil Quinoa before. A lot of great benefits to it

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  19. I love bowls and I love quinoa. Thanks for the great idea...I'll be trying it.

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  20. This looks so delicious my tummy is growling. Bowls! is the perfect book for recipes and inspiration for me. I am happy that my child is growing out of that phase where food can't touch each other on the plate...or bowl as it were. :)

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  21. I am incorporating more quinoa into my diet and this recipe looks great!

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  22. This looks delicious. I love meatballs but have never tried Quinoa before.

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  23. I love quinoa and am always interested in learning new ways to cook with it.

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  24. This looks delicious! I love sumac!

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  25. I'm definitely going to make this!

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  26. This looks like such a tasty bowl!

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  27. I'm going to try that pilaf tonight!

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  28. This looks like such a yummy meal!

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Thank you for commenting :)