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Casseroles remind me of old people. I feel like I’m not allowed to cook one unless I’m over the age of 80, decked out in a floral apron circa 1950. For the most part I love eating casseroles (more on that later), but I just feel like a sham when I’m cooking one. I’ve always wanted to do a behind the scenes of what food bloggers actually look like when they’re cooking. But sadly I think you would all be immensely disappointed by mine. I generally look like a train wreck when I’m cooking and that’s exactly how I like it. And I don’t do aprons. I just pretend that getting flour all over yourself is part of “the art”. Sacrifices people.
My Mom makes a killer mushroom barley casserole. It’s normal for a kid to beg their Mom to make mushroom barley casserole for Friday night dinner right? But then I went to university and the casserole was officially killed for me. When I was picking my residence for university I opted for a single room with a shitty cafeteria versus a shared room in a converted hotel with a chef. I know, a momentary lapse of foodie judgment. The food was by far the worst I have ever tasted with a new level of awful reached on Fridays.
Fridays were “casserole days” aka everything from the week that they didn’t want going to waste mixed together and baked. I genuinely had no idea a TVP, pea, cous cous and mac and cheese casserole could even be considered a meal . Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for strange combinations, but they have to taste good. Let’s just say I experienced what I like to call the freshmen “negative 15”. So I was a bit weary to start tapping into the world of casseroles once more. But this Mushroom Quinoa Casserole definitely redeemed them for me. Now who’s going to help me recover from my casserole PTSD?
Mushroom Quinoa Casserole
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 2 cups of water
- 2 tsp of olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 lb (or 16 oz) mushrooms, sliced
- 1 tsp tried thyme
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened plain almond milk
- 3 T tapioca starch (any type of starch will work)
- 3/4 tsp salt
- pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place the quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer, and rinse thoroughly with cold water.
- Add quinoa and 2 cups of water to a pot and bring to a boil.
- Cover and turn heat down to the lowest setting. Cook for 15 mins.
- After 15 mins,remove pot from heat and let stand for 5 mins, covered.
- Remove the lid, fluff the quinoa gently with a fork and set aside.
- Add olive oil and onions to a large pot and cook over medium heat for 5 mins.
- Add chopped mushrooms to pot and cook for another 10 mins.
- Meanwhile, heat almond milk in microwave for 1 min (or on stove until warm but not hot). Stir in tapioca starch.
- Reduce heat to low and add almond milk-tapioca mixture to onions and mushrooms.
- Stir until mixture has thickened.
- Turn off heat and add quinoa to mixture. Stir until well combined.
- Add mixture to a casserole dish and cover. If you don’t have a casserole dish, use a large oven safe dish and cover tightly with tinfoil.
- Bake for 35 mins.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
Okay so I freaking love mushrooms. I think this would be delicious, and I will ignore the fact it’s a “casserole.” Let’s call it a bake. 🙂 I want to make this asap! What kind of starch should I use, I’m not exactly sure what you mean? Since I don’t have tapioca. Like flour?
cornstarch will work. Flour should work as well. Let me know if you end up trying it!
Wow!! What a great way to use quinoa!! I usually put in onto a salad… it’s amazing how versatile it is… some people eat it for breakfast! 🙂
I know! so versatile. Quinoa porridge is awesome 🙂
Mushrooms are the best, especially roasted in oil and salt. Mmm, combined with quinoa? You’ve got my stomach rumbling. Casseroles are my favorite things in the fall and winter! They’re so cozy and comforting (and now easy and healthy!) Thanks for sharing!
I’ll make this and you’re on dessert…deal? 🙂
Sounds like a deal;) Your pumpkin snickerdoodles would fit the bill!
I don’t know if my comment published 🙁 My computer must not like me. Anyway, in case it didn’t, I just said that I also have worries about casseroles but I love them because they’re so comforting!
You never know what’s hidden in them! But so true, always comforting 🙂
I hate mushrooms, but I love quinoa. And I love you.
<3
Haha casseroles always make me think of the 1950s/1960s too. But hey, if they’re good, I’m all for them! And this one definitely looks good. 😉
Oh geez that sucks about the food in your residence! The food at Western wasn’t bad. There was a decent sandwich, salad, fruit, and stir fry bar in my cafeteria, so I ate those most often. And then depending on the day there were customizable pasta, omelette, waffle, perogie etc bars. I had one bad experience there though when I got tilapia from the hot food counter… and I haven’t eaten tilapia since lol!
Lucky you! Worst part about it was that they renovated BMH the year after I left. Do NOT miss that place or the mountain I trekked up to get there!
haha, casseroles can definitely be awful, but they can also be awesome!! I actually love cooking and eating casseroles (not the cafeteria kind, though!), especially when it gets cold out. this one looks delicious, healthy, and nutritious… perfect 🙂
So true, casseroles and soup are the best when it’s cold…preferably not cafeteria made though!
I love casseroles! and Quinoa!
College/University food is the worst! I’m lucky and at the elementary school I teach at, lunch is provided by a local family owned Italian restaurant and it’s amazing…we had parmesean risotto the other day and it was sooo good!
Karen @karenlovestorun
So lucky!!! We have the worst food at my office so I try to bring my own lunch most days.
Always looking for knew ways to use quinoa, I feel like even though I start eating it over a year ago I’m still a newbie with it
It’s such an awesome grain (technically a seed!) and has yet to fail me in a dish!
I’m a big fan of casseroles, especially in the colder winter months – they’re so comforting and hearty! One of my favorite casseroles is a squash casserole that my momma made a lot when I was younger… Cheesy, topped with breadcrumbs, yum 😀
cheese, squash AND breadcrumbs?!?! Total win!