Because eating gluten-free means eliminating a lot of starchy foods, it can mean an increase in protein intake. More specifically it can mean an increase in meals that revolve around a meat dish. If you have also eliminated other types of grains and starches such as rice and corn, vegetarian dishes can be quite difficult to prepare.
Beans and quinoa are good substitutes for meat. They are both high in protein and fiber. They are also low in fat making them a good choice for people trying to watch their cholesterol and saturated fat intake. Quinoa has a grain like texture but it is really a seed. It contains all eight essential amino acids making it a complete protein. Quinoa is also a good source of iron, calcium, and A and E vitamins.
Quinoa makes a good substitute for rice as a side dish or as a main dish like in this recipe for Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers. The best way to cook quinoa is to soak it for fifteen minutes prior to cooking and then rinsing it. This takes away the slight bitter flavor it can have. Like rice, quinoa is cooked with two parts liquid to one part quinoa. For a softer quinoa two and a half parts liquid can be used. Quinoa cooks much faster than rice, making a good choice when you don’t have a lot of time.
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients
4 red, green, orange, or yellow peppers
1 ½ cups cooked kidney, pinto, or black beans
½ cup uncooked quinoa
1 ½ cups vegetable broth
1 small zucchini chopped
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup frozen spinach
½ tsp dried garlic
½ tsp dried basil
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp pepper
3 tbsp olive oil
½ cup grated parmesan
2 eggs
¼ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
Article source: http://blogcritics.org/tastes/article/glute-free-vegetarian-stuffed-peppers/
