Top 10 Best Quinoa Recipes (2024)

Tiny, bead-shaped, with a slightly bitter flavor and firm texture, quinoa can easily become your favorite ingredient in every recipe. This delicious grain is high in protein and lacks gluten too, so, it is a perfect choice for everybody and it is good for every healthy diet.

Besides these characteristics, you can mix it with a big number of different kinds of foods like chicken, turkey, seafood, mushrooms, vegetables, and many more, there are no limits. Because of that fact we have made a fantastic list of the top 10 best specialties with quinoa for you to try and make some in your own kitchen. Enjoy!

Sesame Chicken with Quinoa

Top 10 Best Quinoa Recipes (1)

Recipe viagimmesomeoven.com

Sesame, soya sauce, and ginger are some of the extraordinary ingredients in this recipe. Highly Asian influenced, this makes it a super dish, reasonably low in carb but super high in protein. It is a great thing to know that meal will contain clean carbs without any refined sugar but honey instead. The flavors are going to be spectacular and something rather simple to come up with bagging lots of flavors. Lovely family dinner.

Saucy Sautéed Shrimp Over Lemon Quinoa

Top 10 Best Quinoa Recipes (2)

Recipe viathekitchn.com

This next recipe literally contains almost no fat at all, apart from the three spoons of butter. Perfect dish for those wishing to focus on a potential weight loss regime, without affecting the loss in flavor! The lemon really comes through balancing the natural sweetness of the prawns. This is a perfect dish for lunch alongside a nice glass of white wine with friends. Perfect getting ready for the warmer months.

Quinoa Burgers

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Recipe via bettycrocker.com

Burgers nowadays have been in an uproar, fighting to tell us that they are not necessarily unhealthy. This is one of the healthiest burgers known, full of flavors. Perfect for those wishing to cut down on meat or simply, vegetarian. Vegans will also love this recipe for its high in natural protein without animal fat associated with it. Any oils can be used depending on your preference that could be more or else even healthier. Make yourself a lovely salad on the side and you’re good to go.

Quinoa Mushroom Pilaf

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Recipe via plantbasedcooking.com

This mushroom quinoa pilaf recipe is massively packed with protein and flavor and it can be the star of your lunch or dinner meal. And, it is no way your typical pilaf dish. The addition of a vinaigrette dressing makes it more like a salad so if you are looking for a traditional pilaf, leave off the dressing. Quinoa comes from the spinach family, which means it provides all the essential amino acids we need for good health. Chicken pieces can most definitely be added or even a good piece of grilled salmon for those wishing to indulge in a little meat or fish.

Butternut Squash Chili With Quinoa

Top 10 Best Quinoa Recipes (5)

Recipe viapeachesanddonuts.blogspot.com

Something delicious and something bite-size for the entire family to share and adore. We love butternut and especially so within the colder months. This recipe is quick and easy to do. If you’re a little chefy, we would recommend whacking the whole butternut squash in the oven for roughly an hour and a half on a baking tray to get the maximum flavor out of it. One could also drizzle a little honey to caramelize it prior to serving. Finger delicious. The kids would love it, and it’s packed with so much goodness.

Skillet Mexican Quinoa

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Recipe via makingthymeforhealth.com

Black beans are some of the favorites in Mexico and some might say important to their diet. Mixing black beans with quinoa was the next natural step and something becoming rather traditional. The unique nutty flavor of the beans naturally suits the naturally nutty flavors of the quinoa. A perfect vegan alternative as it does not contain any animal fat or traces. Although super mega healthy, it is also very hearty and perfect for lunch.

Quinoa And Turkey Patties In Pita With Tahini Sauce

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Recipe via marthastewart.com

This recipe is sure to send you to the Middle East in no time! A sort of Kebbeh so to speak in pita bread. Once again, a rather quick and efficient recipe to make at home your friends and family would forever love. Tahini has always been a favorite of hours and not just great in hummus but alongside these delicious little patties. If you fancy yourself a bit of a connoisseur, then by all means try your homemade pita bread. This really would take it to another level.

Moroccan Steamed Salmon With Quinoa And Carrots

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Recipe via marthastewart.com

How we love Morrocan food and how we love pesto. But here is another version of the green goddess perfect for your pasta, and a healthy one to top it off. A beautiful summer dish bringing even more sunshine into your home. This dish is a great way to slowly introduce everything green to your children and is perfect for their growth. It is super healthy too which everyone will thank you for. It has almost all the nutrients your body requires in one plate.

Fried Quinoa Rice with Vegetables and Chicken

Top 10 Best Quinoa Recipes (9)

Recipe via wellplated.com

Quinoa Fried Rice is essentially the same idea as regular fried rice, just replace the cooked rice with cooked quinoa. This recipe goes excellent with shrimps or as a vegetarian version try with Crispy Tofu. A key element to making this Quinoa Fried Rice tasty and satisfying enough to be a full meal is protein. Perfect if you’re working out and requiring a lot of iron, potassium, and protein. This dish has so much flavor it’ll make you go for seconds.

Roasted Ratatouille and Quinoa

Top 10 Best Quinoa Recipes (10)

Recipe via lastingredient.com

One of the most famous dishes of the Provence area of France but also world known, ratatouille boasts vegetable flavors like no other. Usually served alongside lamb and boiled potatoes, it is very versatile yet can be healthy, but paired with quinoa tops up the healthy scale. Grilled vegetables are a great way to get the most out of their natural sugars, making them naturally sweet with a beautiful nutty aftertaste. This is a dish that will be one of your favorites to make at home for everyone to enjoy.

Top 10 Best Quinoa Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to eat quinoa? ›

Once you've made a batch of quinoa, you have endless options for using it. Make it the base of your next grain bowl, toss it into a salad, or stuff it into squash or sweet potatoes. It's also at home in soups & wraps, and it pairs nicely with sweet flavors as well as savory.

Why should you soak quinoa before cooking? ›

*Soaking grains helps to remove some of the naturally occurring phytic acid in the grain, which helps improve digestibility and speed cook time. To soak: Rinse quinoa thoroughly then add to a large mixing bowl or pot and cover with twice the amount of lukewarm water (2 cups water, 1 cup quinoa).

Is quinoa healthier than rice? ›

Quinoa is rich in both fiber and protein, contains a much higher amount of other nutrients, and has a similar fluffy texture to the rice. A cup of quinoa contains twice more protein and about 5 g more fiber than white rice. Quinoa contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than white rice.

Why do I feel better after eating quinoa? ›

Quinoa is a nutritious choice for people looking for plant-based protein sources—it's a complete protein, containing all nine of the essential amino acids. Plus, its dietary fiber may help improve your digestion. Likewise, its fiber and protein content can help make you feel more satiated than other grains.

How does quinoa burn belly fat? ›

How Quinoa Helps In Weight Loss? Rich dietary fibre and protein increase metabolism, and that makes quinoa good for weight loss. Cooked Quinoa contains five grams of dietary fibre per cup. Eating high fibre foods is often the missing piece when a person is trying to shed weight.

Is it OK to eat quinoa everyday? ›

You can eat one-two cups of cooked quinoa in a day. You should avoid eating it if you experience stomachache, itchiness or vomiting after consuming it. A study by Harvard Public School of Health has reported that eating a bowl of quinoa daily is healthy and without any side effects.

Is it best to rinse quinoa before cooking? ›

Some people are particularly sensitive to saponins, which is why unrinsed cooked quinoa has a reputation for tasting bitter. However, most quinoa that is sold in packages has been "pre-rinsed," which means the saponins have been removed and rinsing isn't necessary.

What happens if you don't rinse quinoa? ›

It wasn't a huge difference in texture, but definitely noticeable. Rinsing quinoa definitely starts to hydrate the seeds. Flavor – In terms of flavor, the unrinsed quinoa definitely had a nuttier, earthier flavor, but I didn't find it bitter at all. The rinsed quinoa was definitely milder and the flavors more muted.

What liquid to cook quinoa in? ›

The basic ratio is 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups liquid. You can use water (season it with a bit of kosher salt), or you can use any kind of broth (we like to use low-sodium broths and add any extra salt to the finished dish as needed). You can also add a bit of dry white wine to the liquid for another layer of flavor.

How much does 1 cup of quinoa make? ›

Now that your quinoa is rinsed or toasted, it's time to cook it. For 1 cup of uncooked quinoa, you'll want to use 2 cups of water—this will yield 3 cups of cooked quinoa. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower the temperature to medium-low and pop the lid on securely.

Why do you put vinegar in quinoa? ›

For people who still find quinoa difficult to digest, soaking your quinoa can help release the phytic acid (which binds to certain vitamins and minerals and keeps us from absorbing them) and activating phytase, the enzyme that helps us digest them. What you'll need: Quinoa. Lemon juice or white or apple cider vinegar.

How long to rinse quinoa before cooking? ›

If you don't have the time to soak quinoa, I recommend rinsing it under running water in a fine mesh strainer for at least 30 seconds. This will help to remove that bitter flavor that can sometimes be found in its outer coating, and it will greatly improve the flavor and texture in the final cooked dish.

How long should you soak quinoa before cooking? ›

To soak quinoa, simply rinse it thoroughly under cold water and place it in a bowl or jar with enough water to cover it by a few inches. Let it soak for at least 2-3 hours, or overnight in the refrigerator. After soaking, rinse the quinoa again under cold water and drain well before cooking.

How do you make quinoa not taste bad? ›

Happily, the solution to preventing bitter quinoa is very simple. All you need to do is rinse your uncooked quinoa in cold running water for a minute or so until the water runs clear.

How do you make quinoa not gross? ›

Unless you prefer the more pronounced, earthier taste of the seed, I recommend giving it a quick rinse under cool running water, which gets rid of its natural coating that can cause a bitter taste. Even if the box says it is pre-washed, I find it doesn't hurt to give the quinoa another rinse.

How do you soak quinoa to get the bitterness out of it? ›

Soak or rinse the quinoa first.

Soaking quinoa in water may help to lower its phytic acid content, and at the same time, it may also help to remove the saponin found in its natural coating. (This can give quinoa a bitter taste.)

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