This Mexican Veggie Quinoa Bake is a mix of traditional flavors and my favorite veggies! By cooking the quinoa in the bottom of the dish in enchilada sauce, we have a flavorful base to load up with kale, onion, black beans, zucchini, bell peppers, and spices.
This is by no means textbook Mexican food. By now, it’s obvious that I love to healthify my favorite Mexican flavors – or make veggies taste better with tomato, cilantro, avocado, and cheese (this Butternut Squash Enchilada Soup is a favorite!).
After a busy weekend, there is nothing better than spending the 15 minutes it takes to prep this meal so you can have lunches on hand for the rest of the week.
As you guys know, I spent the weekend in Boulder at Blend Retreat, and had a wonderful time meeting my blogging friends, hiking around Chautauqua, eating good food and drinking good coffee, and chatting with some companies I’ve worked with in the past or hope to work with in the future. Seeing people live out their passions always inspires me, and I came home full of appreciation, once again, for this community I am lucky to be a part of.
On Sunday, I woke up early once again to work at the Old South Pearl Farmers’ Market in Denver – the first of the season – with Waffle Up. I loved seeing how busy the market was already in May, and we sold out by noon! It was a whirlwind, and then I came straight home to a wonderful book club meeting of wine, cheese, and chocolate. Can’t help but be so happy, but so exhausted.
Now, sitting here on Sunday night working on this post, I wish I had the foresight to once again whip up this Mexican Veggie Quinoa Bake for lunches for the week. I have made this dish 4 times now, playing with the proportions. I know you will all love the ease of this recipe: after throwing everything in a pan, you put it in the oven and let the quinoa bake and the veggies cook all at once!
- 1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed
- 10 ounces red enchilada sauce
- 1 and ¼ cup vegetable broth
- Bunch curly kale
- ½ of a white onion
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 zucchinis
- 1 and ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 bell peppers, any color
- 1 cup Mexican blend shredded cheese
- 1 lime
- Garnishes: avocado, plain yogurt, cilantro, jalapeno slices, lime
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease the bottom of a 13x9 pan with cooking spray or oil. Add the dry quinoa, enchilada sauce, and vegetable broth to the bottom of the pan and mix well.
- Remove the stalks from the kale and cut the bunch into small pieces. Dice your onion. Press the kale and onion on top of the quinoa mixture to form an even layer.
- Rinse and drain the black beans, dice the zucchini into half circle shapes, and dice the bell peppers. Layer the beans, zucchini, and bell pepper on top of the kale.
- Sprinkle the spices and squeeze a lime over the whole pan before placing it in the oven.
- Bake the pan for 45 minutes to 55 minutes, until the quinoa has absorbed the liquid at the bottom and is fluffy. Top the pan with cheese during the last 5 minutes so it melts.
- Serve with avocado, plain yogurt, cilantro, and jalapeno slices.
I hope you guys try out this recipe and let me know if you do! I can’t wait to keep this meal in my back pocket when I know I have a busy week ahead, and the variations are endless depending on what veggies or protein you want to add to it.
Marisa
Erin @ The Almond Eater says
I’m so glad to hear you had fun at Blend (I knew you would) and I’m really glad that you shared this recipe. Pretty much any kind of “bake” is perfect because it lasts for more than one day which equals less work for me!
Marisa says
Yes! Leftovers always 😀
Dana | fresh simple five says
Yes! This recipe looks so good. I love creating healthier takes on Mexican food! Cilantro, lime, avocado and cumin are a few of my favorite ways to jazz up my meals. Will have to put this one into rotation for weekday lunches.
Marisa says
Definitely! Enjoy it!
Selena @ The Nutritious Kitchen says
When meals have lots of pretty colors I am instantly intrigued. And I have been super obsessed wtih Trader Joes enchilada sauce lately so this will be perfect for it!
Marisa says
Yes! Colors = nutrients! (That includes cheese 😉 ).
Julia says
This dang bake looks outta-control-amazing! So healthy, so satisfying, all the cheese and avo pleaaaase! P.S. So jelly of your retreat and glad you all had a maaahvelous time!!
Marisa says
Thanks Julia! Yep – take all the healthy stuff and smother it in cheese and avocado (AKA my life motto… bwahaha).