Mexiqinoa casserole

Yummy - Quinoa, black beans, vegetables, and Mexican flavors, very healthy too.

Yum! only two of us eating and it's already half-gone.

Make sure your quinoa is well-rinsed unless it is precleaned, some recipes suggest soaking it overnight for more digestibility - don't know if it really makes any difference. Everything but the cheese is an "eat all you want" healthy food, and there's lots of protein here.

1 1/4 cups quinoa
2 cups vegetable broth
1 large chopped onion
your choice of vegetables such as:
1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped in small cubes
1 generous cup frozen sweet corn (or fresh)
about 2 cups shredded cabbage
chopped cilantro to taste (I used about half a small bunch without stems)
(celery, carrots, broccoli, squash, peppers, dried tomato or tomatoes with chilis, etc as desired - you can see mine would look better with more green)
Black beans - 1 can rinsed and drained OR 1 can Bush's Grillin Mesquite beans (drained), OR 2 cups cooked black beans (could add lime juice)
handful or two of mild grated cheese - Mexican blend or cheddar jack, etc.
two cloves garlic or equivalent
about 1 tsp ground cumin (or toasted and crushed cumin seeds)

Saute the onion in olive oil, when it's turning golden add corn to "toast", after a few minutes you can add any other vegetables you want to start softening or add flavor to, and the garlic. Cover and leave on low burner while you get everything else ready. Meanwhile heat vegetable bouillon with 2 1/2 cup water (can include liquid from canned tomatoes with chilis) in microwave til boiling.
In large covered casserole dish, place cabbage, beans, cilantro, spices, onion-veg mixture, and any other veg, and the rinsed quinoa. Pour hot broth over and stir well. Cover and cook at 350 for about 45 minutes to an hour. Add cheese on top and leave uncovered the last few minutes (you can turn on the broiler briefly, if needed, for looks).
Let sit about 5 minutes before serving to reabsorb some of the juices.

Nice with some green veg or salad, could put tortilla chip bits or toasted tortilla strips on top under the cheese as some crunch would be a good addition.. Or sprinkle with cheese and more chopped cilantro after taking out of oven - pretty!