Quinoa Pilaf Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1/2 cup quinoa
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed
• salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

• Pour oil into a medium saucepan, and place over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrots; cook and stir for 10 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
• Using a strainer, rinse quinoa under cold water. Drain well. Stir into the vegetables; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add water, bay leaf and lemon rind and juice; bring to boil. Cover, and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed and quinoa is tender.
• Discard bay leaf. Stir in peas, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.