Tassajara Quinoa Caviar

This is a spread that is a quick and easy way to get nutritious quinoa into your diet.

1 eggplant
2 onions, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsbp olive oil
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
salt and pepper
1/4 cup minced cilantro
1/4 cup minced parsley
1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp lemon juice

Roast eggplant until charred.

Sauté the onions and garlic in olive oil until soft. Stir in the quinoa and lightly toast for 1 minute. Stir in the water and salt to taste; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover the pan, and gently simmer the quinoa for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Uncover the pan and fluff the quinoa with a fork; transfer to a bowl and let cool.

Purée the eggplant with the cilantro, parsley, soy sauce, and lemon juice in a food processor. Stir this mixture into the quinoa. Adjust seasoning, adding soy sauce, pepper or lemon juice to taste. Garnish with sprigs of cilantro and parsley, if desired.