Bacon & Brussels Quinoa + Leeks & Beets Crostini

Bacon and Brussels Quinoa

I am participating in a recipe challenge with a few San Diego food bloggers. We all received ingredients from Melissa’s Produce to come up with a recipe. We each got a box including: Dutch Yellow Potatoes, Cleaned and Cut Leeks, Baby Brussels Sprouts, Ojai Pixie Tangerines, Steamed Red Beets, Steamed Fava Beans, Dried Chanterelle Mushrooms and Red Quinoa. I love participating in these kind of food challenges. It always feels like Chopped right in my own kitchen.

Bacon and Brussels Quinoa

I knew immediately that I wanted to make something with the brussels spouts and the red quinoa. And seriously, what goes better with brussels sprouts than bacon?! The recipe is pretty simple to make but it does take a few steps. I chopped and cooked the bacon in one skillet while the quinoa cooked in its own pan. Then I sliced the brussels sprouts in half so they would cook faster and not be too chunky in the dish. I crisped the brussels in the toaster oven with onion, salt and pepper. Then I combined all the ingredients with together.

Bacon and Brussels Quinoa

For the challenge we were to use 3-4 of the ingredients so I came up with a really tasty crostini to pair up with the quinoa. I don’t think I have ever had leeks but they were nicely cut and cleaned in a ready to use bag. I sautéed the leeks with some olive oil and salt until a little crispy. I set those aside and sliced my beets and bread. I topped the bread with a little olive oil and broiled the bread in the oven. I added a thin layer of cream cheese with a few sliced beets and topped it with the leeks. I seasoned the crostini’s with salt and pepper to finish.

Leeks & Beets Crostini

These were the perfect sides to the grilled rib eye we had for dinner. I love getting a little creative in the kitchen and trying out new recipes to see how they taste. This is usually only done on Sundays at our house. There is something about chopping vegetables and cooking with healthy ingredients that is just so comforting. I hope you like these recipes! Let me know what you think in the comments. And be sure to check out the other recipes from my fellow San Diego food bloggers below.

Leeks & Beets Crostini

Leeks & Beets Crostini

Bacon & Brussels Quinoa + Leeks & Beets Crostini

Ingredients

  • 1 package of Melissa’s Produce Cleaned and Cut Leeks
  • 1 package of Melissa’s Produce Steamed Red Beets
  • 1 olive loaf
  • 4 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1/4 cup of cream cheese
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Saute leeks with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper until almost crisp
  2. Cook beets according to package (microwave or steam) and slice
  3. Slice bread into thin pieces
  4. Brush olive oil to sliced bread
  5. Broil bread until just browned
  6. Top bread slices with a thin layer of cream cheese, 2-3 sliced beets, a tablespoon of leeks
  7. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Leeks & Beets Crostini

Bacon and Brussels Quinoa

Bacon & Brussels Quinoa

Ingredients

  • 1 package of Melissa’s Produce Baby Brussels Sprouts (cut in half)
  • 1 Cup of Melissa’s Produce Red Quinoa (cooked)
  • 1/2 Package of Bacon
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin
  • 1 teaspoon of coriander
  • 1/2 cup of chopped white onion
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil

Instructions

  1. Cook Quinoa according to package directions
  2. Add cumin and coriander before simmering
  3. Chop bacon into 1 inch pieces and sauté
  4. Bake the brussels sprouts with onion, olive oil, salt and pepper at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes. (I used a toaster oven)
  5. Add the bacon to the brussels sprouts
  6. Place the quinoa in a serving dish
  7. top with bacon and brussels

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

I received a box of produce to share my experience creating a recipe with Melissa’s Produce. All opinions are my own.

BriGeeski

I love sharing about family, food and fun in and around San Diego! Enjoy, Bri

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17 Comments

  1. Yum! I love how you used the beets and leeks together!

    1. Thank you Barbara! It was a delicious combination!

  2. That first picture is to die for, the crispy bacon and browned brussel sprouts!…Always such a lovely combination 🙂

    1. Thank you!! I love bacon with brussels sprouts!

  3. These look amazing Bri! So fun doing the challenge with you.

    1. Thank you Liz! It sure has been fun!

  4. You can’t go wrong with bacon and brussels sprouts! It looks delicious!

    1. So true! I just had to try the combo with the red quinoa. It just seemed like a great fit 🙂

  5. Both recipes look amazing!

    1. Thank you!!

  6. Great minds think alike! I considered baking mine as well but decided against an extra dish to wash! Oven or stove caramelized is the way to go for veggies like these. YUM!

    1. Too funny! Either way works for me but less dishes is always a plus!

  7. Fantastic job Bri!! I’m a huge fan of Bacon and Brussels.

    1. Thank you Brandon!

  8. Nancy Rose Eisman

    Wow, two awesome looking recipes Bri! Thanks so much for being part of our first Melissa’s/San Diego Food Bloggers Challenge. Hope you’ll join us for the next one!

    1. Thank you Nancy! It was so much fun participating in the Melissa’s Produce challenge. I would be happy to join in on the next one!

  9. […] a tasty recipe with at least 3 of the ingredients from the box. For the last challenge I made a bacon & brussels quinoa with a leeks & beet crostini. This time we received butternut squash, dried cranberries, pine nuts, shallots, baby dutch […]

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