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10 Best Vegan Quinoa Recipes (with Cooking Tips!)

June 24, 2020 By Dianne Leave a Comment

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vegan quino recipes collage

10 Best Vegan Quinoa Recipes

Vegan Quinoa Recipes – not sure what to do with that bag of quinoa in your pantry? Cook it for breakfast, use it in salad for lunch, make burgers for dinner, or stuff some peppers with it! I’ve got all of your quinoa needs covered with these healthy vegan quinoa recipes – the best from my blog – that will cover all of your daily meals. They’re all easy to make, and all of them have gluten-free options.

quinoa

What is Quinoa?

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is an ancient grain from South America. Well, strictly speaking, it’s not really a grain. It’s actually seed that we prepare and eat like a grain, so it’s technically a pseudo-cereal.

It’s gluten-free, and it can be used in pretty much any recipe that calls for grains. I sometimes use it instead of rice, and I’ve been known to cook it for breakfast instead of oatmeal. It’s terrific in Buddha bowls, and it makes a great filling for stuffed vegetables. 

Quinoa was an important crop for the Inca Empire, who referred to it as the “mother of all grains” and believed it to be sacred.

There are three main types of quinoa: red, white, and black. Unlike with rice, the different types of colored quinoa don’t have different nutritional profiles. You can often find all three together in a mix.

When I was taking pictures for a recipe using quinoa a few months ago, we were having our house worked on. Aldo, the construction foreman was excited to see me cooking quinoa. He said he’s from Peru and quinoa is a staple food there. He told me that his grandmother was a widowed teacher with 5 children, and she didn’t have much money, so she worried about feeding her children. She would feed her quinoa to her chickens, and she noticed that it helped them to grow large pretty quickly. So she started feeding it to her kids, thinking it would help them grow, too – and it did!. Aldo is very tall, and he said he owes his height to all of the quinoa he ate growing up.

 

Bowl of Quinoa

Health Benefits of Quinoa

Quinoa has the highest nutritional profile of all grains, making it extremely nutritious!

  • It contains all nine essential amino acids, making it complete protein.
  • B vitamins, iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, calcium, and vitamin E are plentiful in quinoa.
  • The plant compounds quercetin and kaempferol, which are know to reduce inflammation, are also plentiful in quinoa.
  • It has a higher fiber content than any other grain.
  • The glycemic index of quinoa is low, so it’s good for blood sugar control.
  • Quinoa is gluten-free.
  • It is an extremely high-energy grain, and it’s an ideal food for endurance.

pot of cooked quinoaHow to Cook Quinoa

Quinoa has a naturally occurring bitter outer coating called saponin. You should rinse your quinoa before cooking it to remove the saponin. I do this in a fine mesh strainer. You can also do it by placing quinoa in a pot and filling it with water and then placing the lid loosely on the pot and draining the water out over your sink.

Quinoa uses a 1:2 ratio with water, and one cup of dry will produce about 2 cups of cooked. So, if you need 2 cups of cooked quinoa, you’ll need 1 cup of dry quinoa and 2 cups of water.

  • Combine quinoa and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
  • Then, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and let it simmer for 15 minutes or until all water has been absorbed.
  • Nex remove it from the heat and let it stand for about 5 minutes.
  • Fluff it with a fork, and you’re ready to go!

Whenever I cook grains like quinoa or brown rice, I like to make extra and freeze it, so it’s ready when I am. I almost always have a cooked bowl of quinoa on hand in the fridge or freezer. 

vegan quino recipes collage

Vegan Quinoa Recipes 

Often, health coaching clients ask me for quinoa recipes. They’ll say that they’ve had a bag of it in the back of the pantry for a while, and they’re not sure what to do with. I always tell them that it can used in the place of any grain in a recipe. It actually has many uses. Here are some of the best vegan quinoa recipes from my blog:

close up of quinoa breakfast bowlFruit and Nut Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

Start your day with a quinoa breakfast bowl, and you’ll have the energy to make it to lunchtime without snacking!

Springtime Quinoa SaladSpringtime Quinoa Salad

This classic quinoa salad is a perfect light meal for warm spring days. It’s also perfect for summer potlucks and picnics!

Double Broccoli Quinoa Salad

Double Broccoli Quinoa Salad

This is one of my favorite summertime recipes. It’s always a hit at potlucks, and it’s perfect for picnics and cookouts.

two bowls of thai quinoa salad

Peanutty Thai Quinoa Salad

Drizzled with spicy peanut dressing and loaded with fresh veggies, Thai Quinoa Salad is the ultimate quick and easy meal. This recipe is perfect for lunch on the go or a light dinner at home.

quinoa burger

Super Quinoa Burgers

This vegan Super Quinoa Burger from The Best Veggie Burgers on the Planet by Joni Marie Newman is super in many ways – it’s super easy to make, super delicious, and super nutritious!

Quinoa and Kale Bowl

Quinoa and Kale Bowl

This recipe from Vegan Meal Prep by JL Fields is a simple, yet flavorful. Easy to make, it can be served either hot or cold. It’s great for lunch on the go, and it also makes a delicious, light dinner.

Quinoa and Tofu Burrito Bowl with Creamy Vegan Chipotle Lime Dressing

Burrito Bowl with Quinoa and Tofu

This burrito bowl is loaded with baked tofu, savory quinoa, fresh veggies, and Chipotle Lime Dressing. It’s the perfect dinner for busy weeknights, and it makes a great lunch, too.

Pinto Bean and Quinoa Sloppy JoesPinto and Quinoa Sloppy Joes

This recipe from Plant Power by Nava Atlas serves up deliciously on rolls, but if you’re not a bread person, you can serve the mixture in a lettuce-leaf cup or atop a corn tortilla.

Slow Cooker Lentil-Quinoa Taco Filling Lentil Quinoa Taco Filling

Throw all of the ingredients in your slow cooker before leaving for work, and Lentil-Quinoa Taco Filling from Vegan Slow Cooking for Two by Kathy Hester will be ready when you get home!

stuffed peppers

Spicy Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are easy to make, so they’re ideal for busy weeknights. They can be meal prepped ahead of time and frozen until dinnertime.

Quinoa Stuffed Squash

Quinoa Stuffed Squash

You don’t need to wait until the holidays to make this deliciously comforting dish!

What’s your favorite way to cook quinoa?

 

 

Filed Under: Healthy Vegan Living, Vegan Food Tagged With: quinoa

About Dianne

Dianne Wenz is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Vegan Lifestyle Coach, Plant-Based Diet Nutrition Specialist, and Plant-Based Chef, as well as the author of Truly Healthy Vegan Cookbook.

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Dianne Wenz

Hi! I'm Dianne Wenz and I am a Holistic Health Coach, Vegan Lifestyle Coach, Plant-Based Diet Nutrition Specialist, Plant-Based Chef, and cookbook author. I offer group and individual nutrition and lifestyle coaching programs to people across the U.S., and I teach cooking classes in Northern New Jersey. Contact me today to learn more and to schedule a complimentary breakthrough session!

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