The Passover Potluck is a unique annual online event. I’ve invited my friends, both Jewish and non-Jewish, to share recipes that are kosher for Passover. My goals are simple– to foster mutual understanding between different cultures, to introduce you to my foodie friends, and to share yummy recipes and cooking ideas for Passover! To learn more about the Passover holiday, click here. To learn about what makes a recipe kosher for Passover, click here. To check out the other Passover Potluck recipes, click here.
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So here’s a funny story. I connected with this girl named Jackie online– she writes a food blog called Domestic Fits. We quickly became blogging buddies. From day one, we just seemed to “click.” She’s also a Southern California blogger, so we decided to meet up at a local foodie event. When we first saw each other in person, Jackie smiled. “I thought it might be you, and now that I see you in person I know it’s true!” Jackie reminded me that we were good friends back in 4th grade. We both come from a small hometown on the Central Coast of California. We shared the same small circle of friends that year. I’m pretty sure we even went to each other’s birthday parties. At the end of the year, Jackie’s family moved to Washington, and we lost touch. She ended up getting married (with a different last name– which is why it took me longer to recognize her!). Eventually, she started a food blog.
Years and years later, we found each other online and had that instant connection. Weird, right?? It’s a small, small world!
Anyway, I love Jackie’s blog, and not just because she’s my 4th grade buddy. She’s a talented cook and a wonderful photographer. Today, she’s sharing a dairy side dish for the Passover Potluck – her Roasted Mushroom Quinoa Risotto. This would be terrific as the side dish at a vegetarian or dairy Seder. It’s also a fun one to keep on hand for the week of meals following the Seder– or for any day, really! It’s creamy, delicious, and full of protein. Please note that certain Jews believe quinoa falls under the category of kitniyot, and do not eat it during Passover. There is a growing acceptance of quinoa, however, and there are now brands marked Kosher for Passover. If you’re unsure, it’s best to check with a trusted rabbinical authority. For those who do eat quinoa during Passover, this is a delicious option. Enjoy! ~ Tori
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Jackie says:
I’m Jackie, from Domestic Fits and I’m very honored to be posting here, given that I am, in fact, a Shiksa. Although I’m not Jewish, I have had the pleasure of working for a Jewish organization for the past 3 years. In my off-line life (outside of my blog!) I run a social work program for low-income senior citizens on Los Angeles, most of whom are Jewish. Through my work I have been able to learn so much about the Jewish faith, customs and food. I recently asked a 91-year-old woman I work with what her favorite Jewish food is. “Latkes!” she said, without hesitation. She explained that it was the first food that she had ever learned to make, the first food she taught her daughter AND her granddaughter to make. It has become a tradition for the three of them to make Latkes together every year during Hanukkah, three generations of women spending time in the kitchen together. That sounds like a perfect afternoon to me!
Here is a recipe that I love to make when rice isn’t an option but I still want some carbs! It has a satisfying creaminess with the earthiness of roasted mushrooms.
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Roasted Mushroom Quinoa Risotto
Ingredients
- 2 cups assorted chopped mushrooms (such as shiitake, crimini, oyster)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon chopped shallots
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and dried
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place mushrooms on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, toss to coat.
- Roast in the oven until the mushrooms have turned dark and are cooked through, about 10-15 minutes.
- Place the vegetable broth in a saucepan and bring to a mild simmer, keeping to warm, but not boiling.In a separate pot, toast the dry quinoa, stirring constantly, until you can smell a nutty aroma, about 3 minutes.Remove quinoa from the pot, then add the butter and allow to melt over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until opaque, but don’t allow to brown. Add the garlic and cook until you can smell it, about 20 seconds. Stir in the quinoa, cooking until it is completely coated with butter. Don’t allow to brown. About 2 minutes.Add the wine and cook until the pan begins to dry, stirring frequently. About 4 minutes.Add a ladle full (about 2/3 cups) of broth into the quinoa. Stir frequently until the broth is almost dry, and then add another ladle full and repeat. This process should take about 15-20 minutes. Don’t leave the risotto while it’s cooking, the quinoa on the bottom of the pan burns easily. If you run out of broth, just use hot water the same way you would broth. If you have made risotto before, just know that the quinoa version will require less broth and cook a bit quicker.Once your risotto is cooked through (taste it to verify that the quinoa is cooked), turn heat to low and add the cheese, cream and salt and pepper to taste. Risotto should be soft and wet, not dry like typical quinoa. It should be firm enough to be served as a side on a plate, but soft enough to jiggle when the plate is shaken. Stir in the mushrooms just before serving.
Nutrition
Hi Tori,
My daughter turned me on to your blog, and we both think you are terrific!!! Your recipes and great, clear and easy to understand (and I love the step by step pictures that go along with them). But more than that is your blog itself. Each story or recipe is infused with a genuine warmth and love for all things Jewish, and we just love to read them. You have more of a Jewish neshama than many Jews by birth!
Thanks again!
Ellen
Two questions — Isn’t quinoa a berry and not a grain (and this is why many authorities allow it to be eaten for Pesach)?
Also — You had said the the mayonnaise in the dill sauce for the salmon would make it dangerous to leave out. I had read that this is a fallacy, and that mayo actually protects food from spoiling, rather than promoting spoilage (as most people mistakenly believe). Do you know which is actually true?
Thanks a bunch.
Hey Ellen! Great to hear from you. Quinoa is technically a seed, not a grain (though it is commonly referred to as a grain because it is so grain-like in texture). It is closely related to spinach and Swiss chard. Most kosher authorities agree that it is kosher for Passover, though some do put it into the category of kitniyot. If you’re unsure about it, ask a trusted rabbinical authority. With regards to the mayo, I’ve never heard that it protects foods from spoiling, that is very interesting. I tend to follow my mom’s advice to be careful with it– food borne illness is no fun, and I’d rather be safe than sorry. Mom always knows best. 😉
This looks amazing. My daughter found it on Pinterest and has informed me that I will be making it this year. We had been looking for some new quinoa recipes and have been using it during Pesach for the last few years. Can’t wait to make it! Thanks for sharing.
Eating this right now and it is DELISH! Yum! Thank you.
Awwww, now I’m blushing 🙂 Thank you!
I love how you two reconnected! Fabulous. This is a great dish and one that would be an instant favorite of mine. I love risotto – any and all kinds – but especially mushroom. Delicious. 🙂
I love Quinoa but thought it was a grain (with lots of protein) and wondered if it is allowed for Passover (not a meat Sedar) but for a dairy meal? It sounds wonderful! Could you please include nutritional information with your wonderful recipes?
Hi Lea Carol, most Jews do allow quinoa during Passover because it is technically a seed, not a grain. There are kosher for Passover quinoa boxes on the shelves of my kosher market already! However, you should check with your Rabbi if you’re concerned– not everybody agrees that quinoa is acceptable, so it’s best to contact a trusted rabbinical authority.
Re: nutrition information, right now I am super busy with creating content for this site. Unfortunately, entering each and every recipe into a nutrition calculator is not something I have the time to do (maybe someday when I have people to help– right now, it’s just me!). However, there are many nutrition calculators online that can help you out, just search “nutrition calculator” and many will come up. Hope that helps!
So delicious! I love mushrooms. Thanks for sharing.
I love it that the quinoa will “giggle.” Clearly it’s happy comfort food. 🙂
HAHA! Typo: *jiggle. 🙂
Looks great! Just curious…is there a reason you didn’t use wine in the recipe like you would for risotto with rice? Thanks!
The recipe does call for 1/4 cup dry white wine. You can skip it if you don’t drink, or if you don’t keep wine in the house, using broth instead.
The quinoa package (Red Mill) says it has been washed and dried already. Do I have do this again for this recipe?
Yes! I would. I always rinse it before I use it. Not everyone does, but I do 🙂
I would not freeze with the cream or cheese. That way you would hear it up with fresh cream and cheese.
Hi, I was wondering if this could be frozen and reheated later. I’m trying to make some of my passover dishes ahead of time.
Thanks!
Chag Sameach
Theres nothing in this that would go bad if it was frozen, but the problem would be reheating it so that it actually tasted good. I’ve never tried it, but I would imagine that the quinoa would do much better than rice to reheat. If you do freeze it, you will need to add extra broth so that it doesn’t get dry.
Quinoa is a great passover option. I also have a family of non-mushroom eaters. Here’s my recipe for roasted vegetable quinoa salad that goes down a treat, and is good for passover and the rest of the year (both recipes are on my blog): http://wp.me/P1M7Tg-rX
Happy Passover!
This vegetarian thanks you. Can’t wait to try it.
this looks amazing! images of the mushrooms are gorgeous!
I love this! What a great recipe. I’m new to quinoa, but I really like it and the mushrooms are stunning! Thanks for sharing!
Fantastic recipe, you shiksa you!! Debbie Kleeger, my sympathies. I know another head case nut job who won’t eat mushrooms. That totally makes no sense. Food aversions are so stupid!!!
Well, let me amend that. I wouldn’t criticize or mock aversion to anything that had eyes. But a plant food? Puhleeze. I’ve got no patience! Well, I do know a few people who refuse to eat any fish product, whether it be tuna, salmon, shrimp, anything. That’s particularly dumb, too.
I also have several people that don’t like mushrooms. I am just serving them on the side. That way you can put them in if you like. But I think sundries tomatoes would be lovely in this
Sounds great, but I’m the only one who eats mushrooms. Have you tried subbing another vegetable such as broccoli or asparagus?
I am going to have to make this! I love quinoa, but have never made it into a risotto!
What a lovely idea!! Yum!
Beautiful!
Interesting recipe. Bet it tastes delicious.
I’ve been considering adding quinoa to this year’s Passover menu…
LL