Last night’s dinner featured a good mixture of a lot of my favorite ingredients. Quinoa is is a vegetarian wonderfood – one of the only sources of complete protein other than soybeans and a few others. Conveniently, it’s also really tasty, and can be adapted to work in all sorts of different recipes. In the past I’ve shown you quinoa tabouli and my three-grain chewy energy bars, and today I bring you…
Black Bean Cocoa Quinoa
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dry quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp coriander
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (less if you can’t handle a kick!)
- 2 tsp cocoa powder
- 1 large onion
- 1 cup diced bell pepper
- 1 can black beans, rinsed
- 1 small avocado, diced (optional)
- 1 medium tomato, diced (optional)
To Prepare: Start by rinsing the quinoa – this removes some of the bitterness and soapy residue that is sometimes on the outer shells. I used red quinoa for this recipe, but it is fine to substitute traditional quinoa.
The best way to get good flavor into your grains is to cook them WITH spices, rather than adding spices in at the end. The heat of the cooking process intensifies the spice flavor! For this recipe, I used chili powder, cinnamon sticks, cayenne pepper, and coriander (un-pictured because I used it all).
And the secret ingredient that makes this recipe so good is the COCOA powder. Maybe it is my Cincinnati blood, and the fact that I was raised on Skyline Chili, but I think the combination of cocoa powder and chili powder can’t be beat.
Back to the cooking process – first things first, you need to cook your quinoa. Depending on your preferred method of cooking, there are two ways to do this.
1. Rice Cooker – I’m sure it comes as no surprise that this is my preferred cooking method. Combine quinoa, spices, and cocoa powder with 2 cups liquid and cook on “quick cooking” setting. Wait for the signal that the quinoa is ready, and fluff! Easy as that.
2. Stove top – Combine quinoa with 2 cups water, spices, and cocoa powder, and bring up to a simmer. Once simmering, cover and cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. Be careful to make sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan!
While the quinoa cooks, you can begin to sauté the onions and peppers, and prep your tomato and avocado for topping. I got all of these ingredients at last weekend’s farmer’s market – even the onion!
On medium high heat, add a little bit of olive oil to your pan, and then cook the diced onion until soft. After ten minutes or so, add the pepper and continue to sauté for another 5 minutes. At this point the quinoa should (hopefully) be ready. Go ahead and fluff your quinoa and add it to the pan with your veggies, along with a rinsed can of black beans.
Season to taste with salt and pepper, and stir over medium heat for just a few minutes, to ensure that the mixture is heated throughout.
Top with tomato and avocado (and a glob of Greek yogurt if you like dairy), and enjoy!
I stuffed some into a whole wheat pita and ate it like a sandwich, with an additional heaping pile on the side.
This recipe is fun because, while there are hints of southwestern chili-like flavors, the cocoa powder is what really steals the show.
Enjoy!
79 Comments so far
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This has some of my favorite flavors, so I am definitely adding it to the list of recipes I must try :)
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Wow, love it. Do you have Roger Ebert’s new rice cooker book yet? You’d like it a lot, I think. The writing is gorgeous, and he adores the “pot,” as he calls it.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
I DON’T and I really want it. I need to remember to pick up a copy!
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wow, YUM… quinoa is my favorite, and this sounds like a tasty combination for sure!! :)
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Wow, that looks delicious. I was actually craving some black bean quinoa today, and now that I’ve seen your recipe, I want to try this! I’m going to make my craving wait until I have all of the ingredients!
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what an interesting combo! i can’t wait to try this :) i love adding cocoa in unexpected places, and this is certainly unexpected but makes perfect sense all at the same time!
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mmm I know what I’m making for dinner tonight…
what an interesting recipe! THANK YOU! I missed your cooking :)
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Haha I missed it too! :)
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Yum, this sounds so good. I love quinoa, my parents started making it for me when I was about five and i have been an addict ever since. Must try ts combo this week.
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Oh that looks fantastic! I gotta start trying to work cocoa into recipes :)
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Could you talk more about rinsing? I tried to do that and it just out of control messy
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
I use a fine mesh strainer (very cheap from Target) and just rinse it with cool water for a minute under the sink. Then I plop the wet mound straight into the rice cooker!
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Oh man that looks good!
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oh my goodness! Girl, this recipe has got it going ON. That sounds incredible. I mean, I’m always down for anything with chocolate, even if it includes veggies.
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What a great idea! Might be a good way to get my husband to eat vegetables
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
I would think this would feel like a pretty manly meal – very hearty.
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Minus the onions, that looks tasty! Sorta like veggie sloppy joe mix.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Embrace the onions! :)
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Quinoa is by far a favorite food of mine! So versatile and so tasty!
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I’ve been wanting to try quinoa and this looks like a delicious way to do it! I also and going to try your quinoa tabouli recipe…..I love tabouli!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
I LOVE that tabouli recipe.
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Emily,
A little nervous about adding the cocoa not sure I’d like it. Also what about carob powder? I guess I could add 1 tsp and adjust next time. Either way love your recipes and directions with photos.
Thanks again
Lancaster gal
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Not sure about carob powder, I would assume it’s pretty similar. Give it a try – I promise it’s good!
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This looks sooooo good, I love that the recipe includes cocoa – so tasty!
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Is the quinoa supposed to look like it has shoots coming out of it? Or is this special sprouted quinoa?
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Nope, that’s what regular quinoa looks like when it’s cooked! That’s actually a good indicator for knowing when it’s done.
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Living in Cincinnati for almost 12 years means that I, too, have a special fondness for cocoa powder with chili powder!
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Emily,
How many servings is this dish? I know it is just the two of you eating so I assume you split this. Making sure to consume enough protein is important. I am new to the vegetarian diet, just two months, and I am always on the look out for new recipes and ideas. Thanks for all you do.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
I would say 4 relatively big portions. We eat a LOT, and we still had a bit of leftovers.
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I LOVE the flavor combos that you come up with. I am getting a bit more adventurous with experimenting in the kitchen, but I’m not quite to your level yet ;) Can’t wait to try this one!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Thank you! :)
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I’ve never had quinoa! Actually, I don’t even know how to pronounce it. Is it “key-noah” or “qwin-oah” lolol..Maybe if I could pronounce it, THEN I could learn to cook with it! Your dish looks delicious, as always. Love the colors that are added into it :)
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Amber K Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
keen-wah
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
YES! Sorry I’m late to this. KEEN-wah, like Amber said. :)
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Yay for Skyline!! You must make something with Montgomery Inn Sauce, too. I’m telling you, I could drink that stuff straight from the bottle :)
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Julie @SavvyEats Reply:
September 14th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
For YEARS after we moved from Cincinnati to Minnesota, my grandparents would send my dad Montgomery Inn Sauce for Christmas and birthdays!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Mmmmmmm I love Montgomery Inn sauce…
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
I’ll have to get some the next time I’m home!
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Julie @SavvyEats Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
I now feel a strong desire to make cincinnati chili sometime this week…
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Love the cocoa addition!!
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This is great! I’m always looking for ways to make quinoa more interesting.
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I love quinoa, but you lost me with the cocoa… LOL
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Give it a try – I promise it is sooo good!
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I would never think to put cocoa in a savory dish! I guess I should try it before judging it..
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Looks good! I totally agree with you on the cocoa-chili combo. It sounds a little scary for the uninitiated, but really, it’s pretty subtle. My bet is that most people wouldn’t even pick up on it in a savory dish if they weren’t told it was there.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Agreed. Sounds weird, tastes amazing. You just have to close your eyes and DO it! :)
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as soon as i shut my computer, im heading to my kitchen to try this. i have all the ingredients!!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Hope you like it! :)
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What’s awesome about this recipe is that I know I can make it tonight with what’s already in my cabinets/fridge and it’s SO easy! Perfect! You solved my dinner dilemma, thank you!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Oh good – hope it turned out well!
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I REALLY wish I’d seen this BEFORE I went to the store. . . I would have picked up some cocoa and cinnamon sticks. . . Already adding to the list for next week. . .
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
There is always next week! :)
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MMM, this looks so good and I think I have most of these ingredients. This might just be my dinner tomorrow night. Thanks!
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Wow – thankyou for sharing! This looks like my kinda meal :)
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I am totally making this! I love Skyline Chili, too (I am from Ohio, but the NW corner, so mostly we ate homemade cincinnati chili) and this looks like a GREAT idea! We are getting peppers and tomatoes in our CSA, so this works great.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
It doesn’t actually taste like Skyline, but the same flavors and feel are there. Good enough for me! :)
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Emily Reply:
September 21st, 2010 at 8:45 pm
I just made this for dinner tonight. It was yummy, but I think I must like things a little spicier. The cocoa really came through, but I’ll increase the chili powder next time. It was so quick to make! Thanks for the idea. It was so pretty with the tomatoes and avocado on top. I think it would also make a really yummy enchilada filling, with corn tortillas and green chile sauce poured over top. You’ve inspired me! :)
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 22nd, 2010 at 11:43 am
I’m always afraid to list a recipe exactly as we like it – SUPER spicy. But I agree, we upped the cayenne a bit too. Thanks for letting me know!
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I made this for dinner tonight. It’s wonderful!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Oh yay! Love that you made it already, and I’m really glad it turned out well. :)
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this looks great..I will definitely give it a whirl!
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Yum! What a creative dish.
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this looks great! and woohoo for skyline chili!
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This recipe looks amazing! Added to my recipe list!
You should know that today, for the first time, I’ve set up adzuki beans in my rice cooker. If all goes well I’ll a perfectly cooked bean dish when I arrive home from work tonight! :)
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Ooooh yay! Crossing my fingers for you that they turn out great. :)
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This sounds amazing! All my favorites in one dish!!!
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This looks delish! I love skyline chili and I’m not even from Cincinnati! I’m definitely going to give this recipe a whirl, minus the bell peppers because they don’t like me. =)
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Oh my word! YUM! I think you’ve just changed my plans for dinner.
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[...] Black Bean Cocoa Quinoa [...]
I made it last night and it was so good!!! And really filling: my fiance is usually still hungry after a vegetarian meal but not with this recipe!
I just found it was a bit dry: we used lime juice but do you have any idea what kind of sauce would go well?
Thanks! And congrats on the pregnancy!!
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Just made this. Thanks for the yummy recipe. :)
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Emily Malone Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 10:45 am
Yum – one of my favorites! Glad you liked it!
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Scott in Ohio Reply:
February 8th, 2012 at 9:41 am
I linked to this through HEAB. Made the recipe over the weekend and had for lunch today.
Absolutely delicious! Thank you!
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Emily Malone Reply:
February 8th, 2012 at 9:45 pm
Glad you liked it – thanks for letting me know!
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Making this tonight :) I love the sweet and savory mix and can’t wait to see what it tastes like tonight!
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Emily Malone Reply:
May 18th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
One of my favorites!
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I just made this in my college apartment – my (non-vegan) roommates and I loved it! They thought the flavors sounded weird together but they really enjoyed it! Thanks so much for another great recipe :)
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Just made this – it turned out awesome! I don’t know why I hadn’t thought about cooking the spices into the quinoa but it worked very nicely!
Thanks for sharing :)
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[...] up another quick meal. It was ready in 25 minutes- start to finish. I made Emily’s Cocoa Quinoa. I have been wanting to try it for a long time, and tonight was the perfect night. Plus it is [...]
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