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    Home » Recipes » Vegetarian Main Dishes

    Quinoa risotto (quinotto) with roasted cherry tomatoes

    Published: Aug 16, 2013 · Updated: Sep 28, 2020 · by Nicole · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Quinoa risotto quinotto with roasted cherry tomatoes
    Quinoa risotto quinotto with roasted cherry tomatoes
    Quinoa risotto quinotto with roasted cherry tomatoes
    Quinoa risotto quinotto with roasted cherry tomatoes
    Quinoa risotto quinotto with roasted cherry tomatoes
    Quinoa risotto (quinotto) with roasted cherry tomatoes
    Quinoa risotto (quinotto) with roasted cherry tomatoes
    Quinoa risotto (quinotto) with roasted cherry tomatoes
    Quinoa risotto (quinotto) with roasted cherry tomatoes
    Quinoa risotto (quinotto) with roasted cherry tomatoes
    Quinoa risotto (quinotto) with roasted cherry tomatoes

    Quinoa risotto (quinotto) with roasted cherry tomatoes

    Quinotto - it's a funny name but this make over of risotto is absolutely delicious.  Gone is the stodginess usually associated with risotto as rice is replaced with quinoa for a lighter, healthier and protein packed alternative.

    I used to be a huge lover of risottos. HUGE! In fact I made them all the time when I was single, but after a while the stodginess of risotto got to me. I'd always feel a little bit sick and uncomfortable afterwards, and it was a good year before I made it again. A year later it was just as heavy as I remembered so I gave up and forgot all about risotto for a while.

    Then one day I decided to try using quinoa in place of rice and it worked beautifully and was a delicious and healthy lunch that I've made over and over again.

    My favourite way to eat quinoa risotto (quinotto) is with roasted cherry tomatoes. The sweet and slightly acidic cherry tomatoes are little flavour bombs, releasing their beautiful juices as you break them open. Coupled with peppery rocket and a few dollops of pesto it's a comforting dish you no longer need to feel guilty about enjoying. That's assuming you don't cover it in a mass of parmesan!

    Have you tried quinotto (quinoa risotto) before? What did you think of it?

    Quinoa risotto (quinotto) with roasted cherry tomatoes

    Quinoa risotto (quinotto) with roasted cherry tomatoes

    Quinoa risotto (quinotto) with roasted cherry tomatoes

    A delicious and healthy rice free risotto.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Save Saved!
    Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: vegetarian
    Keyword: Quinoa risotto (quinotto) with roasted cherry tomatoes, risotto
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Calories: 456kcal
    Author: Delicious Everyday
    4 servings

    Ingredients

    • 250 g cherry tomatoes 1 ½ cups
    • 2 cloves of garlic paper on
    • 2 tbs olive oil
    • 4-5 cups of vegetable stock
    • 1 tbs butter
    • ½ brown onion diced
    • 1 ½ cups quinoa rinsed under running water for 2 minutes
    • ⅓ cup white wine optional
    • ¾ cup rocket leaves
    • salt and pepper
    • BASIL PESTO:
    • ½ cup basil leaves packed
    • 2 tbs cashews
    • 2 tbs grated parmesan cheese
    • 1 clove small of garlic
    • 1 ½ tbs olive oil
    • salt and pepper
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 180 celsius (350 fahrenheit) and toss the cherry tomatoes and garlic in 1 tbs of olive oil and place in a small baking tray. Roast for 20 minutes or until tender and the skin has started to shrivel and split.
    • While the tomatoes are roasting place the basil leaves, cashews, garlic, parmesan and oil in a food processor. Pulse to combine.
    • Place a medium saucepan over a high heat and add the vegetable stock. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to low.
    • Place a large saucepan over a medium heat and add the butter. Once the butter has melted add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove the garlic cloves from baking tray and squeeze the garlic from the paper and add to the onions. Squash the roasted garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the quinoa and coat in the butter, onion and garlic mixture until the quinoa starts to turn translucent.
    • Add the wine and cook until it's absorbed. Add the stock, a ladle at a time, and cook until absorbed before adding another ladleful, stirring as you go. Once the quinoa is tender remove the saucepan from the heat and add the remaining 1 tbs of olive oil and half the cherry tomatoes. Stir, squashing the cherry tomatoes against the side of the saucepan to release their juices. Check the seasoning and adjust as necessary. Lastly add the rocket leaves and stir to combine before serving immediately with dollops of pesto.

    Nutrition (Estimated)

    Calories: 456kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 12gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 1017mgPotassium: 585mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1165IUVitamin C: 17.1mgCalcium: 82mgIron: 3.9mg
    Shop our Cookbooks!Check out our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks for more tasty meatless recipe ideas.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says

      September 19, 2013 at 2:46 am

      I've never tried quinoa risotto, but I'm craving a big bowl of it after seeing your gorgeous pictures! This looks amazing and I love that it's lighter than average risotto. Love the cherry tomato addition as well! x

      Reply
    2. Will Cotterill says

      September 18, 2013 at 1:31 am

      5 stars
      I love all the ingredients you have in this recipe Jennifer! Especially, it has garlic, I love garlic!;-) I'll try this at home!

      Reply
    3. Thanh @ eat, little bird says

      August 23, 2013 at 9:33 am

      The only time I tried quinoa was when I had invited a gluten-intolerant friend over for lunch and needed to make him a gluten-free alternative to the couscous which everyone else was eating. I followed the packet instructions and, unfortunately, it didn't work for me. I think it tasted too healthy! But I love your recipe for quinotto which sounds much more flavoursome. I have sent my friend a link to your recipe 🙂

      Reply
    4. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says

      August 19, 2013 at 2:41 am

      LOVE this lighter and healthier twist on quinotto. So yum!

      Reply
    5. Peter G | Souvlaki For The Soul says

      August 18, 2013 at 11:21 am

      5 stars
      Quinotto??? Mmmm...this looks delish. And I get the stodginess of regular risottos. Love that you used cherry tomatoes here!

      Reply
    6. thelittleloaf says

      August 16, 2013 at 5:43 pm

      I have a soft spot for risotto but this looks delicious too! If you're looking for other rice alternatives, pearled spelt and barley are also delicious in risotto 🙂

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        August 16, 2013 at 5:52 pm

        I've made barley risotto before, and really loved it. I have actually been looking for pearled spelt here but haven't been able to find any. When I do I'll be sure to try it.

        Reply
    7. Sarah | The Sugar Hit says

      August 16, 2013 at 1:38 pm

      I am IN LOVE with risotto, but also on a slight carb restriction at the moment! This looks like a perfect alternative. Especially now the weather is heating up.

      Reply
    8. Sneh | Cook Republic says

      August 16, 2013 at 10:11 am

      Quinotto?? I like that very much 🙂 x

      Reply
    9. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

      August 16, 2013 at 9:47 am

      5 stars
      I had no idea it had a name of its own. This looks like something I should have on my own table. Gorgeous photos!

      Reply
    10. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

      August 16, 2013 at 9:44 am

      What a fabulous alternative to risotto, especially with the roasted tomatoes!

      Reply

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    Nicole - Vegetarian Food Blogger

    Nicole is a 25+ year vegetarian, and author of a vegan cookbook. She shares her recipes on Delicious Everyday, an award-winning vegetarian and vegan food blog.  About Nicole

    the one pot vegan cookbook, by nicole malik
    5 day vegetarian challenge

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