Spicy Orange quinoa and black beans with Berbere Spice

A bowl of tri color quinoa with black beans, orange slices and zest and sliced red chili.

5 from 1 vote

Spicy Orange quinoa and black beans with Berbere Spice

Spicy orange quinoa and black beans with Berbere spice mix is a flavorful and easy one-pot recipe for a vegan main dish you can make in 40 minutes or less.

Prep Time15

Cook Time25

Total Time40

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Ethiopian

Diet: Vegan

Servings:

Calories: 313kcal

Author: Denise Perrault

Ingredients

2 medium leeks white and light green parts, thinly sliced and rinsed
2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
1 medium orange zest and juice
1 teaspoon Berbere spice blend see notes
½ teaspoon salt
3 cups vegetable broth you can also use water
1 ½ cups quinoa use any color desired or mix a few, rinsed before cooking
3 cups black beans 2 - 15 ounce cans (400 grams) drained and rinsed
1 small red chili sliced or minced, optional
4 medium green onions sliced thin, optional
salt and pepper if desired

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Heat a medium pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the leeks and cook for 2-3 minutes to soften them.
Stir in the garlic, orange zest, berbere, and salt. Then add ½ cup of broth to deglaze the bottom of the pot.
Mix in rinsed quinoa, then add the orange juice and the rest of the vegetable broth. Lower the heat to simmer and cook the quinoa (covered or uncovered) for 15 minutes until the liquid is absorbed.
Stir in the black beans, turn off the heat, and cover the pot. Leave for 5 minutes.
Stir and taste. Add salt and black pepper if desired.

Video

Notes

Berbere is a hot Ethiopian blend of spices. Look for it at the grocery store or specialty shops. You can also make my homemade Berbere spice mix. It lasts for months.
Curry powder with a pinch of cayenne pepper is the best substitute for Berbere. My spicy Thai curry powder blend is another option.
Cook quinoa in the Instant Pot on high pressure for 3 minutes, with 10 minutes of natural pressure release. You won't save a lot of time, but it's a good option for meal prep if you need stove space.

Nutrition