Gluten-Free Stuffing: Quinoa Stuffing with Apple, Sweet Potato and Walnuts (Week 45, 52 New Foods) November 19 2012, 0 Comments

For a healthy twist on a holiday favorite, this easy recipe for gluten-free stuffing made with quinoa, apples, sweet potato and walnuts is just the ticket.

Our holiday table is always filled with family favorites – tastes and smells that immediately bring back fond memories of family get-togethers and warm celebrations. But this year, in honor of our 52 New Foods adventure, we’re adding a few new additions to our table. Thanks to the fantastic and fabulous Marla Meridith at Family Fresh Cooking, we’re welcoming quinoa stuffing to our list of favorite holiday dishes. Bonus points for being gluten-free!

Gluten Free Stuffing: Quinoa Stuffing with Apple, Sweet Potato and Walnuts

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 35 to 40 minutes
Yield: Makes 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients:

1 cup dry quinoa
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into ¼” dice
2 Braeburn apples, chopped into ¼” dice
½ cup maple syrup
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp thyme
¼ tsp ginger
¼ tsp cinnamon
1 cup walnuts, chopped
Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Add the quinoa to two cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until the water is absorbed.  

2. While the quinoa is cooking, add the lemon to the apples.

3. Toss the lemon apples with the sweet potato, maple syrup and spices.

4. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes.   

5. Add the quinoa and walnuts to the baked apples and sweet potatoes. Drizzle with a little extra maple syrup and add salt to taste.

6. Enjoy with friends and family!

Recipe inspired by Marla Meridith's Quinoa Stuffing with Apple, Sweet Potato and Hazelnuts.

* What new foods are you adding to your holiday table this year?

Craving more easy recipes to try? Catch up on last week’s recipe: Easy Butternut Squash Soup!

About the author: Jennifer Tyler Lee is a mom of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color® -- the award-winning nutrition games that make healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she struggled to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to make it into a healthy eating game and she’s giving back to support non-profit kids’ nutrition programs. Winner of the Dr. Toy and Parent Tested, Parent Approved awards, Crunch a Color® has been featured by Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, Laurie David’s Family Dinner, Kiwi Magazine, Dr. Greene, and Yum Food & Fun For Kids, among many others, as a simple, fun and playful way to get kids to eat healthy and try new foods. Jennifer’s passion is making mealtime fun, easy and healthy for busy families. Her easy recipes, quick tips, and new food adventures are regularly featured at Pottery Barn Kids, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, The Huffington Post, and on her weekly recipe blog at crunchacolor.com.