Quinoa with Broccoli, Toasted Almonds, and Browned Butter

I did it.  I got all brave and I finally opened the package of quinoa I had had in my pantry for a month.  Now, I was expecting it to have the texture of little pieces of wood or something, but the texture was quite pleasing.  Nothing off-putting about it at all.  The taste was good too.  (Not cookie dough-on-a-stick good, but really good for a grain.)  In fact, I normally cook with brown rice and just for the record, quinoa kicks brown rice's butt.

There.

And it was so fast compared to brown rice too.  Just 12 minutes.  And not sticky at all. And my sources say it's extremely healthy.  As in, not just a little bit healthy, but extreeeeeemely healthy.  Something about complete proteins or something.  I don't know.  Look it up.

I struggle with side dishes.  Side dishes are the thorn in my...side.  It's like I get side dish amnesia when I'm cooking dinner and I just don't know what to put with my main dish.  I threw this together in no time flat and it was good, really good.  I'm calling this a side dish, but I did, in fact, eat this for lunch one day, so really it could be anything you want it to be.

 Here are my notes:

-Basically, this is just more of an idea and less of a recipe.  Add what you want, how much you want.

-I used frozen broccoli because that is what I had, but I feel like roasted, fresh broccoli would have been better.  You do it, kay?

-Don't forget the salt.  It just needs salt.

Quinoa with Broccoli, Toasted Almonds, and Browned Butter

Printable Recipe

1 cup quinoa, cooked according to package directions

1 (16-ounce) package frozen broccoli heads, cooked according to package directions

1/3 cup toasted sliced or slivered almonds

3 tablespoons butter

Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Place the quinoa, broccoli, and almonds in a large bowl and toss.  Melt the butter in a small skillet and cook over medium to high heat until butter is foamy and golden brown and nutty smelling, about 3-4 minutes, swirling butter in pan several times.  Pour over the quinoa and toss to evenly coat.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.