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Easy Healthy Vegetable Quinoa Recipe

Easy Healthy Vegetable Quinoa Recipe


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This easy healthy vegetable quinoa recipe is a quick and nutritious side dish that is perfect for any occasion. Quinoa recipes are packed with flavor and nutrients and are perfect for a weeknight dinner or a quick and satisfying lunch.

Quinoa, a complete protein, is a great alternative to rice or pasta. It’s packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making it a nutritious addition to any meal. In this recipe, the quinoa is cooked in vegetable broth, adding extra flavor and nutrients. The vegetables, including onions, red bell peppers, zucchini, and frozen mixed vegetables, provide a colorful and flavorful accompaniment to the quinoa.

Healthy Vegetable Quinoa Recipe in white bowl with blue kitchen towelHealthy Vegetable Quinoa Recipe in white bowl with blue kitchen towel

This easy healthy vegetable quinoa recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly, making it a delicious and nutritious option for everyone. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients, this dish is perfect for those following a plant-based diet or looking to avoid common allergens.

One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to prepare. The vegetables are sautéed in a skillet, making it a convenient and hassle-free meal. Simply combine the cooked quinoa with the sautéed vegetables, season with your favorite herbs and spices, and enjoy.

Whether you’re a busy working professional or a stay-at-home parent, this quinoa dish is a great option for a quick and nutritious meal.

Vegetable Quinoa Recipe Ingredients

This simple recipe is made with tricolor quinoa and a combination of frozen and fresh vegetables. These can all be easily found at the local grocery store or Whole Foods.

  • 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 zucchini, diced
  • 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • salt and black pepper to taste
ingredients for easy Healthy Vegetable Quinoa Recipe with labels ingredients for easy Healthy Vegetable Quinoa Recipe with labels

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Ingredients Tip and Swaps

Quinoa is a complete protein, meaning it contains all essential amino acids, making it a great option for those looking to increase their protein intake. The nutty flavor of quinoa pairs well with the savory vegetables in this dish, and quinoa is a whole grain that is rich in fiber and nutrients.

This recipe uses pre-rinsed tri-color quinoa for convenience. While there are different types of quinoa, the cooking time and method are generally similar. If you’re using a different type of quinoa, be sure to follow the cooking instructions on the package.

It is always a good idea to rinse the quinoa under cold water in a fine mesh strainer before cooking. Rinsing quinoa before cooking helps remove a natural coating called saponin. This coating protects the quinoa plant from pests and fungi, but it can also give cooked quinoa a bitter, soapy taste. While most commercially available quinoa is pre-rinsed, it’s still a good practice to give it a quick rinse before cooking, especially if you’re sensitive to bitter flavors. Make sure to check out my simple steps for how to cook quinoa.

This recipe is highly versatile and can be customized to your taste. Feel free to swap out the veggies for any of your favorite vegetables, such as broccoli florets, sweet potatoes, or green beans. Experiment with different combinations to create your own unique version of this healthy and delicious dish.

This recipe uses vegetable broth to keep it vegan-friendly, but you can easily substitute it with homemade or chicken broth if desired.

How to Make This Vegetable Quinoa Bowl

First, prepare the quinoa. Place one cup of quinoa in a medium pot with the broth and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Then reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, covered, until all of the liquid has absorbed. Remove from the heat and let the quinoa sit in the pot for 10 minutes to make sure you get the most fluffy quinoa. 

cooked fluffy quinoa is medium potcooked fluffy quinoa is medium pot

While the quinoa cooks wash, and cup the veggies. Next, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and saute the chopped onion until translucent. 

saute onions in skillet with olive oilsaute onions in skillet with olive oil

Next, add the bell pepper to the skillet. I am using red for a pop of color, but you can use green pepper if you’d like. Cook for about 3 minutes.

red bell peppers in skillet with sauted onionsred bell peppers in skillet with sauted onions

Then add the zucchini.

green zucchini into skillet with vegetablesgreen zucchini into skillet with vegetables

And the frozen mixed veggies. Stir to combine and cook for another 5-7 minutes.

peas and carrots into skillet with veggies peas and carrots into skillet with veggies

Make sure that the frozen vegetables are no longer cold.

sauteed onions, peppers, zucchini, peas, carrots in a large skillet sauteed onions, peppers, zucchini, peas, carrots in a large skillet

Next, add the cooked quinoa to the skillet.

add quinoa to skillet with cooked veggies add quinoa to skillet with cooked veggies

Then add the seasoning and stir.

salt pepper and oregano into skillet to seasonsalt pepper and oregano into skillet to season

Stir to combine over low heat until all of the ingredients are mixed well. Serve immediately.

vegetable and quinoa skillet vegetable and quinoa skillet

Easy Healthy Vegetable Quinoa Recipe

This easy healthy vegetable quinoa recipe is a complete meal packed with protein, fiber, and vitamins. It’s perfect for meal prep, as it’s easy to make in larger batches and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Leftovers are even better the next day when the flavors have had time to meld together.

complete meal of sauteed vegetables and quinoa in a white bowl complete meal of sauteed vegetables and quinoa in a white bowl

This recipe delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort. You can enjoy this warm quinoa salad at room temperature, hot or cold. It’s up to you.

The best part about this recipe is how versatile it is. You can customize it with different vegetables and toppings to suit your taste. This is a great way to incorporate more healthy foods into your diet. Add a burst of flavor with fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro. This full meal is packed with nutrients and will keep you feeling satisfied all day.

healthy dish of cooked quinoa with colorful vegetables in white bowl and blue kitchen towel, Vegetable Quinoa Recipehealthy dish of cooked quinoa with colorful vegetables in white bowl and blue kitchen towel, Vegetable Quinoa Recipe

More easy quinoa recipes:

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 zucchini, diced
  • 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. First, cook the quinoa in a medium-sized pot with the broth.
  2. While the quinoa cooks, prepare the veggies and cut and dice them into smaller pieces.
  3. Heat the oil in a large skillet and saute the onion until translucent.
  4. Then add the red bell pepper.
  5. Next, add the zucchini and frozen veggies.
  6. Cook until veggies are slightly tender.
  7. Add the cooked quinoa and seasoning to the skillet
  8. Stir to combine.
  9. Serve and enjoy.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6

Serving Size: 1

Amount Per Serving:

Calories: 100Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 334mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 3g

nutritional values are estimates and may vary depending on products/ingredients used.

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