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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
psst..i confess that i have never made a casserole (of any sort) 😛 i love that yours has mushrooms, onions, AND quinoa..i may have to give this a try 🙂
and i can’t believe you didn’t go with the chef! you are so interesting!
I know…fail! Let me know if you like it 🙂
Yum! I love casseroles, but I never would have thought to put mushrooms and quinoa in one. This looks amazing and so comforting…perfect for this time of year. 😉
It was like a warm hug in my tummy haha!
Ha I love how you view casseroles for older people. I grew up in Minnesota and attending a Lutheran church, casseroles were everywhere. My mom made them on a regular basis for us and I will probably always love their simplicity. Anything with mushrooms, I’m a fan!
But they’re called hot dishes right?!?! Can’t get over that!
I look terrible when I cook too. Believe me, you don’t want to see me! Unlike this casserole, which looks utterly amazing! I love the quinoa/mushroom combo! x
Thanks Consuelo! I say we do a photo swap lol!
When it comes to casseroles, I don’t think old people, but I DO think June Cleaver…fifties style bob, apron with high heels, the whole shabang! Haha! Oh and also, I think CHEESE!! I’m sorry, I love you to death, but I have a hard time calling a casserole a casserole if it’s not topped with ooey gooey melty cheese! 😛
The food in college sucked SO bad during my first semester (think rocks that doubled for baseball practice), but luckily the new student center/cafeteria with other food options opened up the next semester…omg, the focaccia paninis I used to get would make me go weak in the knees! Now tell me, HOW did you get the opportunity to room with a chef? And WHY did you turn it down?!?! Omg, I’m thumping you on the head right now! Haha!
Lucky you!!! Focaccia paninis would NEVER have been an option. They had sandwiches that were white bread with a slice of ham and a kraft cheddar slice. Horrific.
Let’s not talk about my poor decision making skills!
ohh nice casserole. looks yummy. i have never tried making a casserole with quinoa and this looks awesome. i too love casseroles because they just seem so easy to make for dinner. you can pretty much throw in whatever you want nd bake it !
Yup! super easy and delicious…most of the time 😉
Heheheh I look like a mess when I’m cooking too! I used to wear an apron but got lazy about it since I have to take it off, on, off, on, especially with Selah who MIGHT need my attention. 😛 And certain foods tend to make me think “Beaver Cleaver” ish stuff, but I love it that way! Casserole is one of those things that make me feel nice and cozy inside.
SO Beaver Clever! I guess when you have a kid it’s somewhat more acceptable to play that role 🙂 Can I come babysit Selah?!?! She’s actually the cutest kid in existence!
Oh yum, this looks delish! Everything I could want in one dish. 🙂 I love casseroles. Basically stick everything in a dish and cook….sign me up!
So easy! When they’re done right 🙂
You crack me up! Brandon has actually take a few pictures of me as I’m cooking and taking pictures and it’s horrifying. PJ’s, frizzy hair, eye boogers and all. 😉
I love casseroles, when they’re not a conglomerate of leftovers. I would be begging for this one too!
So happy I’m not alone! One day Curt is gonna post a picture of me on IG or something that shows just how disastrous I look and I am going to be mortified!
I looooovvveee casseroles. But, I have no associations with them, as we didn’t really have many meals at home at all when I was growing up. They are totally something new to me in my adult life – which means I’ve been able to make the kind of casseroles that I like. And, this one looks absolutely lovely!
Ah lucky you!!! Thank you 🙂