Root Vegetable Pie with Quinoa Crust

Root Vegetable Pie with Quinoa Crust

Our farm family is growing and it's growing fast. 40 baby chicks joined our tribe on Friday afternoon and we could not be more stoked. We whipped up this root vegetable pie and headed to the greenhouse armed with plates, beers and plenty of napkins so we could stare at our newly germinated kale plants and chat about the chickens and our farming season in general. Some of my favorite "date nights" with Taylor have been in the greenhouse and the combination of awesome food, great beer and plenty of thriving plants makes for a very romantic atmosphere. Our little chicks are adjusting to life at Tumbleweed Farm and we're excited to offer more fresh eggs to our customers in the near future. We have quite a few farm projects happening at the moment and I'm working really hard to keep meal time sacred and enjoyable. Regardless of how stressful and crazy the days can be I love the quiet evenings spent in the kitchen (or greenhouse) eating a delicious meal with Taylor. This root vegetable pie is delightful. I've been loving using quinoa as a base for quiches and it works equally well for this recipe.  I was inspired by a dish from What's Cooking Good Looking and I'm happy to have this savory pie in our rotation. Obviously the cashew cream was a highlight and I was beaming with pride when Taylor compared it to ranch dressing (his guilty pleasure!) I've said this before and I'll say it again, having a jar of homemade cashew cream in the fridge is always a great thing. It jazzes up any meal and is essential on this root vegetable pie. It adds a creaminess and tang that ties the whole meal together. If you aren't keen on the idea of cashew cream you can substitute with crumbled goat, blue or feta cheese if you'd prefer.  I know life can get extremely busy for us all but I hope wherever you are that you can find time in the evenings to slow down, crack open a delicious beer and enjoy a nourishing meal with someone you love. Bon appétit.

Root Vegetable Pie with Quinoa Crust & Cashew Cream

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 1/2 hours
Serves: makes a 9 inch pie

Ingredients

For the quinoa crust
  • 1 cup uncooked quinoa
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme OR 1/4 teaspoon dried
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • pinch of salt and pepper
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
Root Vegetable Filling
  • 2 medium sized beets, cut into 1/4 inch chunks (no need to peel)
  • 2 medium sized parsnips, cut into 1/4 inch chunks (no need to peel)
  • 1 medium-small sweet potato, cut into 1/4 inch chunks (no need to peel)
  • 1 medium sized red onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh minced thyme + additional sprigs for garnish
  • a couple of Tablespoons of olive oil
  • salt and pepper
Cashew Cream

Preparation

  1. Place the quinoa and stock in a saucepan, bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes (or until quinoa is tender and can easily be fluffed with a fork.) Remove from the heat and give it a good stir. Set aside.
  2. Preheat the oven to 400F. Place the beets, parsnips, sweet potato and onion on a baking sheet. Mix with the olive oil, thyme, salt and pepper. Toss well and bake in the oven until the vegetables are tender. About 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
  3. Reduce the oven temperature to 350F. Grease a 9 inch pie plate.
  4. Place the quinoa, thyme, garlic, salt, pepper and eggs in a small bowl. Whisk until well combined.
  5. Spread the quinoa mixture evenly throughout the pie plate. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the crust is set. Remove from the oven.
  6. Spoon the pie filling onto the crust and place back into the oven for 10 minutes or until everything is warmed through. If you are adding cheese do so before you place the pie back in the oven.
  7. Remove, and let the crust slightly cool. Drizzle with plenty of cashew cream and slice into uniform wedges. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

* I cook with a taste and feel method. Use this recipe as a guide and adjust measurements and ingredients as necessary. *Cooking times will vary depending on ingredients and specific ovens. * Have fun in the kitchen and switch things up to suite your individual taste and preference.

Comments