Quinoa Picadillo
with Jalapeño Collard Greens and Lime
Hailing from the Dominican Republic, picadillo is a one-pot meal that serves up serious comfort. The spices get toasted early in the preparation, and a hint of cinnamon adds a unique island twist. The liquid from the black beans, aquafaba, is also used in our recipe; you may already know it as a great culinary shortcut for thickening sauces. Our guest chef and founder of Kombu Kitchen, Nybll, and The Patra Project, Kristen Thibeault is the culinary mastermind to thank for this protein-packed recipe.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 jalapeño chiles
- 6 ounces tomatoes
- 1 lime
- 6 ounces collard greens
- 1 onion
- Garlic
- Ear of corn
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil*
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon turbinado sugar
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Salt*
- 4 tablespoons vegetable powder
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 package cooked black beans
- 1/2 cup green olives
- *not included
INSTRUCTIONS
Rinse and dry the chiles, tomatoes, lime, and collard greens. Trim, peel, and chop the onion and 2 garlic cloves. Trim, seed, and dice the chiles. Chop the tomatoes. Zest the lime using the small side of a box grater or a microplane; halve the fruit and cut one half into wedges.
Husk the corn. To cut the kernels from the cob, stand the corn ear up on a cutting board and cut down the rows, turning as you work. Put 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When it’s hot, add the tomato paste and sugar and cook, stirring constantly, until they’re fragrant, about a minute.
Add the cumin, oregano, chili powder, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt and cook until they’re fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the onions and up to half of the chiles, depending on your affinity for heat, and cook until the onions are translucent, 2 or 3 minutes. Add the garlic and tomatoes and continue cooking for another minute. Add 1 1/2 cups water, the corn, vegetable powder, quinoa, and black beans and their liquid and bring it to a boil. Chop the olives and add them to the pan. Adjust the heat so it bubbles steadily, cover, and cook until the quinoa grains have burst and all of the liquid has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.
Strip the collard leaves from the stems, roll them together tightly, and cut them crosswise into thin ribbons. Put the remaining 2 tablespoon oil in another large skillet over medium high-heat. When it’s hot, add some or all of the remaining chiles and cook until they’re fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the collard greens, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, until they’re bright green, 1 or 2 minutes.
Juice the lime halves into the picadillo, add the zest, and stir; taste and adjust the seasoning. Put a bed of collard greens on the bottom of four shallow bowls and top with some of the picadillo; pass the lime wedges at the table.