Apple Fest: Quinoa with Caramelized Onions and Apples

Here is a healthy and seasonal side dish or meal combining apples and quinoa.  Whenever I eat quinoa (which is admittedly, not very often), I think that it needs a lot of help to taste really great.  With some other grains, like white or brown rice, I totally love the grain itself plain, on its own, with only a little fat and salt and pepper.  Quinoa does not have, for me, great flavor or texture on its own.  In sum, when I eat quinoa I know I am eating something healthy.   But because it is healthy, I want to try to eat quinoa more instead of rice, so I look for ways to jazz it up. For my apple week dish, I decided to make an apple quinoa salad kind of thing, adding some caramelized onions to punch up the savory flavors and some toasted pecans for some crunch.  This turned out to be the perfect sweet, savory, crunchy combination, and this side dish would be perfect for someone putting together a "healthy" thanksgiving meal (I will be filling my table, or more accurately my sister's table, with mashed potatoes, stuffing and squash...)  This would also be a great mixture to stuff a squash or pumpkin with, adding a little grated cheese to the top.  Without further delay, my side dish contribution to Apple Fest.

Quinoa with Caramelized Onions, Apples and Pecans

Ingredients
1 cup quinoa, soaked for 20 minutes in water than drained
2 cups of water (or a chicken or vegetable stock)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large red onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted in a dry pan for 2 minutes
1 and 1/2 cups chopped granny smith apples
salt and pepper
more olive oil to taste

Directions:

1. To make quinoa, in a large saucepan combine the quinoa and water and some salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover and cook over low for about 20 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed.
2. While the quinoa is cooking, heat the 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat.  Add the onions and continue cooking over medium heat for about five minutes, until translucent and starting to brown.
3. Add the sugar and stir, then turn heat to low and cook until deep in color, about 10 - 15 minutes more.  Set aside.
4. When the quinoa is done, add some salt and pepper to taste.  Then add the onions, apples and pecans and toss together, adding some olive oil to bind it together.  
5. This is good either warm or at room temperature.