quinoa nori wrap

So I figure I'd go with a savory recipe today and stock up on ingredients before attempting another baked good. 

Quinoa nori(seaweed) wrap! I actually got the idea from Cassey Ho's Instagram, Blogilates. Cassey is a super energetic and fun Pilates trainer whom I've been following for quite some time now. Her workout videos on Youtube are INTENSE but AMAZING and she was and still is my inspiration to lead a healthier lifestyle =) Thank you Cassey!

On my Trader Joe's run last night I also bought a pack of red quinoa. MAJOR super food packed with proteins and it's healthier than brown rice! I often find quinoa in salad recipes but substituting it for sushi rice worked out pretty well too :) It tastes amazing with creamy avocados that even my older sister, who rarely eats anything healthy, enjoys it (but she added mayonnaise, of course).

I couldn't find my sushi roller so I put it on my silicone baking liner instead. I had planned to use that as a roller but I ended up rolling it with my bare hands anyway.

Assembled!

 

It tasted somewhat like a California Roll, probably because of the avocados. I attempted using scissors to cut my wrap into bite size pieces but the nori became too soggy so it didn't cut well. My quinoa spilled too :( But if you DO want to cut it into sushi roll pieces I suggest you assemble your wrap as quickly as you can and cut it while the nori is still firm. I ate mine like a burrito, but hopefully your pieces turn out better than mine did if you do decide to cut them :)

Quinoa Nori Wrap 

yields 1 wrap 

Ingredients:

1 sheet of nori (you can get them in a big pack of 10 sheets)
rice vinegar + dash of sugar (optional, I didn't use it because I forgot, but if you want a more authentic sushi taste, go for it!)
1/4 to 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
4 oz or less cooked, cubed chicken breast
half of an avocado

Directions:

- Be sure to have the quinoa and chicken breast cooked first!
- Place nori over a sushi roller or over any flat surface (I used my silicone mat because I couldn't find mine)
- Scoop the cooked quinoa over the nori and spread but not all the way to the edges. Leave about 1/2 to 1 inch margins on all sides.
- Place the cooked, cubed pieces of chicken breast on one side in a vertical line. Then slice a few pieces of avocado and place it next to the chicken and slightly on top of the cubed pieces.
- Roll the nori from one side and try to hold the roll tight while rolling it, but not so tight that it rips the nori sheet!
- Cut and serve or serve as is and devour.