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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
“casseroles remind me of old people” — oh goodness, that’s awesome. And very true. I go back and forth on casseroles – a well made casserole is awesome, a casserole made with 12 cans of cream of whatever (which comes out of the can shaped like the can…) is not quite as good. I’ve done a couple Mexican style casseroles, which I’ve been a big fan of – but adding salsa and cheese makes everything better, really.
Nope you definitely can’t go wrong with salsa and cheese! Throw some crushed up tortilla chips and it’s a total win!
No way, casseroles are way cool. Although I love wearing a floral apron from the 50’s anyways, but still – casseroles are where it’s at! Speaking of, this mushroom casserole looks delicious!
You make casseroles cool!
Casseroles are SO not just for old people. They’re for lazy people like myself! Mmmm, this reminds me of my grandma’s Kasha Varnishkes…minus the noodles. It’s one of my favorite things ever. So making this!!
Kasha is a tradition in my family too but I hate it! I can’t get my taste buds around it for some reason! But quinoa can always substitute 🙂
i’m not a huge quinoa fan so this recipe probably isn’t for me but i am on such a mushroom kick lately!!
Rice might work! I forgive you for not liking quinoa because mushrooms are seriously amazing!
Hahaha what an unfortunate casserole experience! But hey – I hear you on wanting the single room!
Glad you feel me! Not sure if I regret the decision because I probably would have killed my roommate but man the food was seriously bad!
I luckily went to the University of Guelph which literally has the best university cafeteria system in Canada. My residence was next to Creelman Hall which was our caf. destination. It was packed full of these awesome different stations. Home-cooked meals (think prime rid, chicken, lasagnas) crepes, deli station that made fresh sandwiches, pasta station, quesadilla station, salad bar, dessert bar, Harvey’s and Swiss Chalet. I will admit I totally put on the freshman 15. Don’t be too jealous of my awesome caf. experience 😉
I heard Guelph had an awesome caf! New Res had the best caf when I was at McGill but I was set on a single room so I went with Molson. That place felt like Prison. I was so happy to move out!
I’m resisting the urge to yell “‘It’s a shortcut.’ ‘A shortcut to what?’ ‘MUSHROOMS!'” ….please tell me you’ve seen Lord of the Rings and I don’t sound (entirely) insane. Oh, and this of course looks delicious.
Don’t hate me but I’ve never seen lord of the rings!
Confession: I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a casserole… My mom never really cooked them while I was growing up (or maybe she did and I just didn’t know it??) and they’re not really a dish that pops into my mind when I think of what’s for dinner. Gotta admit that it does look pretty tasty, though… Can I come over for dinner? Or… like… now? 🙂
I’m waiting for you!
Well I love casseroles. But I already know I’m 80. Can’t wait to try this one 🙂
Shall I get you a 1950s apron for Christmas?
My husband would love this. He’s a HUGE mushroom fan!
I lived in a dorm my freshman year of college but didn’t opt for the meal plan. I had a mini fridge in my room and used the community kitchen to make my meals. Looking back, it wasn’t the wisest choice, but I survived!
I ended up cooking a lot of my own meals too. And by cooking I mean cereal 😉