How to Make Quinoa Bowls Recipe
A versatile and nutritious quinoa bowl recipe perfect for a healthy meal. This recipe shows you how to cook quinoa from scratch and assemble a customizable bowl with your favorite veggies, proteins, healthy fats, and dressings for a balanced, satisfying dish.
- Author: Mila
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: International
- Diet: Vegetarian
Quinoa
- 2 cups white quinoa
- 4 cups water
Bowl Assembly
- 1 cup cooked quinoa per serving
- 1 cup veggies of choice (e.g., cherry tomatoes, cucumber, spinach, bell peppers)
- 1/2 cup protein of choice (e.g., grilled chicken, tofu, beans)
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup healthy fat (e.g., avocado, nuts, seeds)
- Dressing/sauce of choice (e.g., tahini, lemon vinaigrette, yogurt dressing)
- Cook the quinoa: Add 2 cups of white quinoa and 4 cups of water to a small saucepan. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pan with a lid, and let the quinoa simmer gently for 15 minutes until all the water is absorbed.
- Fluff and cool: Remove the pan from heat and take off the lid. Fluff the cooked quinoa gently with a fork to separate the grains. Allow the quinoa to cool completely before using it to assemble your bowls or storing it for later use.
- Assemble the quinoa bowls: Spoon 1 cup of cooked and cooled quinoa into each bowl. Add 1 cup of your chosen veggies, followed by 1/2 cup of your preferred protein. Top with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of a healthy fat such as avocado or nuts. Drizzle with your favorite dressing or sauce to finish the bowl.
Notes
- You can prepare quinoa in advance and keep it refrigerated for up to 5 days to save time.
- Customize your bowls according to dietary preferences and seasonal veggies.
- Rinse quinoa before cooking to remove its natural coating called saponin, which can taste bitter.
- Adjust water ratio slightly if you prefer quinoa more firm or softer.
- For more protein options, consider beans, lentils, chicken, or tempeh.
Keywords: Quinoa bowl, healthy bowl, vegetarian quinoa bowl, meal prep, nutritious lunch, plant-based protein