Roasted Potatoes with Red Quinoa

My roasted potatoes topped with red quinoa are a real life changer. Once you’ve decided to cook them, you will do it over and over again as they are so delicious, fully loaded with healthy nutrients and easy to make.

Firstly, I would like to clarify why my recipe is so awesome and a life changer. We all know that potatoes are a very popular food staple. They are packed with vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.

However, a lot of people still go for the greasy French fries, potato chips or even baked potatoes loaded with fats such butter, loads of vegetable oil, sour cream and melted cheese on a regular basis. So taking away the extra fat, using only a splash of extra virgin olive oil and filled them with red quinoa, it turns my baked potatoes into an exceptionally healthy food high in protein, fiber and minerals and low-calories that may help us against cardiovascular disease and cancer.

I went for the red quinoa this time as it has such a strong earthy and fruity flavor. If you haven’t tried it yet, you can find it in most of the supermarkets or, surely, in natural local food stores (for ones who live in Düsseldorf, I surprisingly found it in Real).

Quinoa is the world’s most popular superfood as it provides a rich source of protein, fiber and minerals, but does not contain any gluten, which makes it a great alternative for vegans and vegetarians. Furthermore, the health effects of this superfood go way beyond the vitamins and minerals we are all familiar with. There are loads of trace nutrients in there that include flavonoids, which are plant antioxidants that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-cancer effects.

So, by including quinoa to your weekly meal plan, you will significantly increase your total intake of protein, fiber and minerals (in particular magnesium). As it’s easy to digest and contains a low glycemic index, quinoa is good for diabetics too. However, it’s very important to keep in mind that quinoa is relatively high in carbohydrates, so don’t consume it in large amounts in one go.

Now that I clarified the health benefits of both potatoes and quinoa, I should go on with my recipe which keeps you full for a long time. I would highly recommend to have it at lunch time as it contains carbs as well. I personally had it along with a Greek salad, but it can also make a great dish on its own.