Recipe Semi-Flop: Quinoa Mac & Cheese

Two weeks ago, I came across this recipe for Quinoa Mac & Cheese. I've never tried quinoa before, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to give it a chance. I was very excited for a healthier mac & cheese recipe, until I took my first bite. It was dry and bland. It wasn't bad enough not to eat, it just lacked a lot of moisture and flavor. My husband completely disagrees and thinks it is inedible. He was a trooper and choked down his portion that he claims "tastes like dirt."

I made a few revisions to the recipe, but I don't think the revisions I made would explain the lack of moisture and flavor. The original recipe calls for white quinoa, but I had red quinoa in my pantry. Instead of leeks and tomatoes, I chopped a whole yellow onion. I also added a half a cup of sweet potato puree to the cheese mixture. And, I sprinkled extra cheddar cheese on top.

Despite my high expectations for this dish, this recipe is a semi-flop in my book. It's not bad enough not to eat, but I wouldn't recommend it either. I still think the concept of Quinoa Mac & Cheese has some potential, so I may revisit this on my own and try to develop my own recipe some day. It'll be awhile though, as it will take some convincing to get my husband to ever try it again. If it doesn't taste As Good As Gluten, he's not in. I don't blame him.

What are some of your favorite quinoa dishes? I'm anxious to give quinoa another try with a no-fail recipe!