Bacon Pumpkin Quinoa

Even though November has come to a close, I refuse to accept the belief that pumpkin is strictly a seasonal ingredient reserved for pies and muffins. When you find an ingredient that can make even your savory meals creamy and rich without the added fat and calories of a dairy product, why not keep it in your kitchen year-round? Head to your grocery store, grab a can (or ten) of pumpkin purée and keep it in your pantry for that day in February when there's been snow on the ground for two weeks straight and you want to transport yourself back to a time when the temperature was thirty degrees higher. That's where this bacon pumpkin quinoa comes in – if the pumpkin doesn't warm you up, I'm sure the bacon will.

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:
1 slice bacon
½ cup quinoa
1 cup chicken broth or water
2-3 tablespoons pumpkin purée
Salt and pepper, to taste

Photo by Hannah Lin

Directions:
1. Slice bacon into small chunks.
2. Fry bacon in a small saucepan or frying pan over medium heat until almost completely cooked.
3. Add quinoa to pan, stir to combine with bacon and cook for about one minute.

Photo by Hannah Lin

4. Add chicken broth or water, turn heat up to high and bring mixture to a boil.

Photo by Hannah Lin

5. When the mixture reaches a boil, turn heat down to medium-low, cover pot and cook for 15 minutes.
6. Stir in pumpkin purée and let cook until all liquid is absorbed, about 2-3 minutes.

Photo by Hannah Lin

7. When all the liquid has been absorbed, season with salt and pepper and serve.

Photo by Hannah Lin

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