Our 28 Best Quinoa Recipes For Healthy Meals
Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl. (Photo: Erik Putz)
This high protein, gluten-free grain (which is technically a seed!) is extremely versatile. Quinoa can be enjoyed hot or cold, and offers different varieties such as red, black, white and puffed (we like to use it to crisp up chicken or add a healthy crunch to breakfast).
Is quinoa a grain?
It's not actually a grain, but the seed of a grain-like crop from the chenopdodium family. Considered a "pseudo-cereal" because it can be consumed the same way as a grain or grass—it actually belongs to the same family of species as swiss chard, beets and spinach. Its origins are in the Andean region.
The seed is off-white in colour and resembles a very small bead. When cooked, it unravels, becomes translucent and looks like a small coil. The texture of cooked quinoa is firm, and the flavour slightly nutty with a hint of bitterness.
Is quinoa good for you?
Quinoa earned its status as a nutritional powerhouse for a reason. As a complete protein, quinoa contains all nine amino acids and offers up 4 grams of protein per half-cup serving. It's also gluten-free, a decent source of fibre and has a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Higher in monounsaturated fats than wheat and grain, quinoa is very heart healthy. It also contains small amounts of omega 3 fatty acids.
Best of all, it's easy to make. Here's our method for how to cook quinoa quickly and easily:
Quinoa to water ratio
Follow a two-to-one water-to-quinoa ratio. That means if you're making one cup of quinoa, use two cups of water.
How to cook quinoa
Quinoa is cooked similarly to rice. When cooked, quinoa will quadruple in volume (1 cup dry will yield 4 cups cooked).
- Set two cups of water in a pot to boil.
- Rinse one cup of quinoa under cold water and add it to the boiling water. Let it simmer in a covered pot for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Once the quinoa is cooked, turn off the burner and let it sit in the covered pot for an additional five minutes. This ensures all the water gets absorbed and leaves your quinoa light and fluffy.
Do you need to rinse your quinoa?
Not always—much of quinoa is prewashed. If it's not prewashed, rinsing your quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer gets rid of its bitter outer coating.
What's the difference between white quinoa and red quinoa?
White quinoa and red quinoa are fairly similar, though the commonly found white variety tends to be lighter tasting and fluffy. Red quinoa (and also brown and black quinoa) takes a little bit longer to cook and holds its shape better, making it a crunchy addition to salads and grain bowls. It's also prized for its rich colour.
How to store quinoa and how long it lasts
Store dry quinoa in an airtight container in the fridge for three to six months. Cooked quinoa can be stored refrigerated about three days.
Enjoy quinoa in other forms. Puffed quinoa is a cereal product that can be substituted in for any other puffed grain.
Quinoa flour is also available and is used commonly in gluten-free baked goods.
Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl
Cucumbers, tomatoes, chickpeas, hummus, tzatziki, avocado, quinoa and more come together in a sensational, healthy dinner bowl you can’t wait to dig into. Get the recipe for a Mediterranean quinoa bowl.
Roasted Squash And Quinoa Salad
"This is one of my favourite salads to eat, and it’s absolutely perfect on its own as a meal. Nutrition-wise, quinoa covers your protein, and many of the ingredients are seasonless, so you can enjoy it year-round." Get Diala Canelo's roasted squash and quinoa salad recipe.
Mandy’s Gourmet Salads Wolfe Salad Recipe
This salad was an instant family favourite for Mandy's Salads co-founders Rebecca and Mandy Wolfe. The WoBo, as it's affectionately named in the Wolfe family, is still a dinner staple in their homes. Get Mandy's Gourmet Salads Wolfe salad recipe.
Tofu And Quinoa Rainbow Chard Wraps
Fresh, crunchy, creamy—these wraps are a symphony of texture. Get our tofu and quinoa rainbow chard wraps recipe.
Vegetable Kebabs With Creamy Lemon-Garlic Sauce
We used ground flax meal to make a creamy lemon-garlic dressing for this plant-based vegetable kebab. Serve over fluffy red and white quinoa to make it a complete plate. Get our vegan vegetable kebabs recipe.
Quinoa-Veggie Burger
Embrace this filler-free, super-nutritious quinoa-veggie burger. Sandwiched between two grilled portobello mushrooms, it's got healthy and tasty covered. Get our quinoa-veggie burger recipe.
Zesty Peanut Chicken & Quinoa Bowls
Ready in just 25 minutes, the tender chicken thighs are cooked in a sweet and spicy peanut sauce, then served overtop warm quinoa with pickled carrots and fresh cilantro. Get our peanut chicken and quinoa bowl recipe.
Butternut Squash, Quinoa & Pumpkin Seed Salad
Loaded with beans, veggies, fruit and seeds, this protein-heavy power salad recipe is a satisfying, healthy weeknight meal. Get our butternut squash, quinoa and pumpkin seed salad recipe.
Rainbow Veggie Quinoa Bowl
This bowl is loaded with goodies: crisp apple, crunchy carrots and beets, jammy eggs and mixed salad greens (all tossed in a a tangy yogurt-herb dressing). Get our rainbow veggie quinoa bowl recipe.
Baked Meatballs With Roasted Vegetables
Caramelized veggies, perfectly cooked meatballs and lemon-tahini sauce are served up over a bed of fluffy red quinoa and topped with crisp apple slices—it's a party in a bowl. Get our baked meatballs with roasted vegetables recipe.
Veggie Quinoa Frittata
Quick and packed with nutrition. Get our veggie quinoa frittata recipe.
Peanut Butter Seed Bars
Packed with super-seeds like quinoa, flax, sesame and sunflower seeds, these bars are the perfect grab-and-go snack. They used puffed quinoa—think, puffed rice, but quinoa!—which you can find at Bulk Barn and other retailers. Get our peanut butter seed bars recipe.
Quinoa Porridge
Try this healthy, tasty alternative to your morning oats topped with fresh fruits. Get our quinoa porridge recipe.
Spanish Pork And Beans
You can easily make this hearty meal, packed with plant-based protein, vegetarian by omitting the pork. Get our Spanish pork and beans recipe.
Sesame-Ginger-Beet Quinoa Bowl
This healthy dinner bowl gets a mega-boost from freshly grated beets (they’re loaded with minerals, nutrients and all-around veggie goodness). And the leftovers? They’re the perfect work lunch. Get our sesame-ginger-beet quinoa bowl recipe.
Shrimp-Fried Quinoa
Quick-cooking shrimp and vegetables mean this recipe is ready to eat in no time. It’s also a pefectly low-key way to start off the week. Get our shrimp-fried quinoa recipe.
Squash Salad With Pumpkin Seeds
A power salad packed with the good stuff: beans, broccoli, squash, quinoa and dried cherries. Get our squash salad with pumpkin seeds recipe.
Mushroom Grain Bowl
Filled with mushrooms, lentils, quinoa, baby spinach and hazelnuts, this super nutritious bowl is a great weeknight meal sure to leave you satisfied. Get our mushroom grain bowl recipe.
Hearty Quinoa Soup
One of our most-loved recipes! In just 30 minutes, this hearty vegetable soup is ready to be ladled out. Get our hearty quinoa soup recipe.
Quinoa Minestrone Soup
Whether it’s red, white or black, quinoa’s a quick-cooking grain packed with nutrition. Here, it's the foundation of a cozy soup. Get our quinoa minestrone soup recipe.
Thai Tofu-Quinoa Bowl
Ideal as a make-ahead work lunch or quick weeknight dinner, this bowl is high in protein and features quinoa, tofu, edamame, carrots and cabbage—all recommended foods in Canada’s new food guide. Get our Thai-tofu quinoa bowl recipe.
Curried Quinoa And Collard Green Wraps
Packed with nutritious ingredients (beets, carrots, quinoa), these wraps are ready in 25 minutes. Get our curried quinoa and collard green wraps recipe.
Sweet And Spicy Salmon With Quinoa Salad
Horseradish and honey-topped salmon meets a zesty salad for a fast and fresh meal you can whip up any night of the week. Get our sweet and spicy salmon with quinoa salad recipe.
Salmon, Lentil & Quinoa Pilaf
Packed with protein, fibre and brain-boosting nutrients. Get our salmon, lentil and quinoa pilaf recipe.
Maple-Cider Chicken And Nutty Quinoa
Toasted walnuts and parsley get mixed in with zesty dijon-dressed quinoa for a hearty side that matches well with our maple-cider chicken. Get our maple-cider chicken and nutty quinoa recipe.
Gluten-Free Strawberry And Granola Parfaits
In this recipe, puffed quinoa and a mixture of nuts and seeds replace the rolled-oat layer of many traditional parfaits. Rounding out this nutritious and delicious treat is Greek yogurt, which contains twice as much protein as regular varieties. Get our gluten-free strawberry and granola parfaits recipe.
Quinoa Crepes With Maple-Walnut Apples
Try this healthy upgrade to traditional crepes; they’re low-sugar, high-protein, and loaded with anti-oxidants and omega-3s. Get our quinoa crepes with maple walnut apples recipe.
Cinnamon Quinoa Salad With Dates And Chickpeas
Quinoa gets tossed with dates, cinnamon and chickpeas in this Middle Eastern-inspired side dish. Get the cinnamon quinoa with dates and chickpeas recipe.
How to make a mushroom grain bowl with quinoa
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