Quinoa, Silverbeet and Two Cheese Tart

Quinoa isn't just for salads, as this recipe from the Good Grains section in our spring issue (on sale now!) proves.

No pastry here, just a tart packed with lots of tasty flavours. Serve as is or top with pieces of moist smoked fish or salmon, dollops of thick yoghurt and a few salad leaves, as I have done. 

⅓ cup quinoa

¾ cup water

1 teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon ground turmeric

8 large stalks silverbeet, tough stems cut out

6 eggs

½ cup cream

250 grams cottage cheese

1 cup grated tasty cheese

2 cloves garlic, crushed

finely grated zest 1 large lemon

sea salt and freshly ground pepper

20cm fixed base cake tin, greased and base lined with baking paper

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

Serves 6

Place the quinoa in a fine sieve and rinse well under cold water to remove the bitter coating from the grains. 

Place in a small saucepan with the water and spices. Bring to the boil then simmer gently for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t catch on the base of the pan.

Spread out on a large plate to cool. Wash the silverbeet well then cook in a large saucepan of boiling salted water for 5 minutes.

Drain then refresh in cold water and drain again. Spread out on a clean tea towel then roll up tightly and squeeze out the water. Chop finely. 

Whisk the eggs and cream in a large bowl and season generously. Stir in all the remaining ingredients, along with the quinoa and silverbeet, then tip into the cake tin.

Bake for 30 minutes or until the filling is set in the centre and the tart is puffed and golden. Cool in the tin for 30 minutes before removing.