Butternut Quinoa Vegetarian Enchiladas
Easy Butternut Quinoa Vegetarian Enchiladas recipe to serve as enchiladas, or use the mixture for individual “bowls” with favorite toppings.
Easy for fall, these Butternut Quinoa Vegetarian Enchiladas that everyone loves!
Butternut Quinoa Vegetarian Enchiladas
After dinner, where we enjoyed these vegetarian enchiladas, my friend pulled me aside. She was next to me in our kitchen, finishing up the dishes after a small dinner party, making small talk, putting away leftovers, glasses, and wiping off counters.
She pulled me aside to share a secret that she had been keeping. Feeling her life wasn’t as exciting as the other dinner guests, it was a little intimidating for her to speak up and get to know the other party guests, or share the details of her life.
How we meet.
The first thing people want to know when meeting someone new is usually: What do you do for a living? Or, how many kids do you have? Or, how long have you lived in the Rogue Valley? Or … what have you done that is extraordinary? Right? Don’t we usually want to know the “flashy” stuff about people?
Most conversation seems to revolve around family, volunteer work, schooling, where we go to church, or we update one another on our work lives. Sometimes sports and politics and travels.
But for the person who feels they have an ordinary job, life, not a whole lot of interests or going ons—this may be something they are embarrassed by, possibly feeling their life isn’t as glitzy or exciting as the person they are talking to.
Ordinary people.
I wrapped my arms around my friend and told her how much I love her. I like ordinary people. I like people who live quiet, simple lives. They often give when no one sees, they are strong, witty, smart, wise, and offer sound advice.
We sometimes think you have to “do it all” to be an interesting person. Or that our occupations or kids are our only way to connect with people. I’ve been guilty of this myself, as I start rambling on about my 3 kids.
Introducing differently.
It made me think of doing introductions in a different way … instead of Charlie is an author, or Charis is a nurse, or Ryan recently climbed Kilamajaro, I’m going to think of words to describe my friends, such as … This is Jenny. Jenny is one of the most compassionate people that I know! Or, I’d like you to meet my friend, Jane. Jane is hilarious!
I love when you meet people for the very first time and you immediately feel a lot of warmth and love from that person.
My friend, Heidi, does this. She is an amazing connector and makes people feel right at home right away.
Our friend, Faye, tells a story about the person she is introducing. She pulls heart strings and makes that person feel so special, without going into the glitz and glamour.
Just as they are.
Introducing our friends for who they are, rather than focusing on what they do or their accomplishments, will make that person feel so good about themselves, secure, loved, and valued, before and beyond their accomplishments or “what they do.”
Here’s a challenge. The next time you are introducing a friend, focus on their characteristics or virtues first, and use those words in your introduction.
Heart felt.
Take a peek into their heart and pull out a word or two that you know is this person – and see what happens?
I’m all about making the people around me as comfortable as possible.
A heart-felt introduction is a great place to start!
Vegetarian Butternut Quinoa Enchiladas
Now for the delicious recipe. I made this for Abby’s 18th birthday party last week and I think it’s a perfect potluck party dish to make or take.
Start with the onions, peppers, and mix in the fresh corn, quinoa and black beans.
Everyone loves butternut and enchiladas, right? Mix it all together and bake and serve! Or, keep it in one-pot and serve individual bowls with yummy toppings like salsa, sour cream, cilantro.
Enjoy!
Do you ever feel stuck when the conversation revolves only around people’s occupations?
Get the Recipe:
Butternut Quinoa Vegetarian Enchiladas
Ingredients
- 12-16 corn tortillas
- 1 lb. butternut squash, diced
- Olive oil
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 3-4 small red and yellow peppers, thinly sliced
- 2-3 teaspoons cumin
- Salt and pepper
- 2 cups cooked quinoa, I buy at Trader Joe’s
- 2 cups fresh corn, cut off the cob
- 2 cans, 15-ounce Bush’s black beans, drained
- 2 cups salsa
- 8 ounces Mexican or Jack cheese, shredded
- 12 ounces enchilada sauce, I buy Trader Joe’s red sauce
- Fresh cilantro, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the butternut on a baking sheet and drizzle with oil. Salt and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes, or until tender.
- For the filling, drizzle a small amount of oil into a large sauté pan. Add the onions, peppers, salt, pepper and cumin; sauté for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Next, stir in the beans, cooked quinoa, corn and salsa and cook for additional 2-3 minutes. Add the butternut last, gently stirring to not break it into pieces.
- Steam the corn tortillas to make them soft, wrapping them in a wet paper towel and microwave on HI for 1 minute.
- Preheat oven to 350F. Heat enchilada sauce on the stove, adding 1/2 cup to the bottom of a 9×13 sprayed pan.
- To assemble each enchilada, lay the corn tortilla on a plate, adding about 1/2 cup of filling, sprinkling with shredded cheese. Roll and gently place seam-side down into the prepared baking dish, repeating until the pan is full.
- Top enchiladas with remaining sauce and add remainder of the shredded cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Top with fresh cilantro before serving (optional).
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
I really happy found this website eventually.
Pretty cool post. It’s really very nice and useful post. Keep it up!!
Sandy, and it will definitely make me think differently when introducing others. Love it! And these enchiladas have so many of our favorite ingredients in them. They look amazing! xoxo
We all love delicious food , and have to eat some good foods like pizza , burger some time we want new taste like this
Everyone reveres butternut and enchiladas, right? Consolidate everything and high temperature and serve! On the other hand, keep it in one-pot and serve individual dishes with yummy enhancements like salsa, unforgiving cream, cilantro.
Everybody adores butternut and enchiladas, correct? Combine everything and heat and serve! Then again, keep it in one-pot and serve individual dishes with yummy garnishes like salsa, harsh cream, cilantro.
This is comfort conversation and you’re sweet, Sandy!
Love this post.
This quinoa dish is definitely fabulous.
imaginative post for me atleast, it’s exactly what i need to learn that.. thanks bunch dear.
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I love this post – it definitly makes you think. I know I, for one always introduce myself, based on my profession – or affiliation to someone ( Hi, I’m sharana – I’m ….’s best friend/ sister / daughter / wife).
Great recipe too :)
Oh my goodness, what a comforting dish! You are the best Sandy! Miss you :)
This recipe has me ooohing and ahhhing… but you know what I love? Your heart and way you make people feel so comfortable. You are a gem!
Love this post!
I love your hearty and rustic rendition of what is usually a fat-ladden dish.
Sandy, you are the best teacher at how to make people feel at ease, comfortable and right at home. I’m so glad I’ve learned to that lesson from you! XO to you and Abs. I know you’re going to miss that sweet little birdie when she flies the coop.
This looks fantastic! And what great ideas. I get intimidated easily and sometimes I feel like I have nothing to offer, but I know it’s not true! I’m a wife, mom, homeschooling teacher, and a blogger-not to mention my household manager! All big jobs that are important.
This is such a heartwarming message, Sandy, and it will definitely make me think differently when introducing others. Love it! And these enchiladas have so many of our favorite ingredients in them. They look amazing! xoxo
YES! Whenever I make enchiladas, I love throwing in squash, quinoa and sometimes chopped toasted almonds to give it a little added texture.
I understand your friends feelings…I think I often feel that way….or I’m guilty of looking at blogs and especially when women go to blog conferences and I see pictures I think “I could never go to one of those, look how put together they are,”…lol oh the traps we easily fall in to!
Such a good thought of introducing others differently…Usually we just try to talk about life….if they work we may ask how work is going but we just kind of let conversation flow on it’s own and see where it goes.