- How-To's | Meal Prep 101 | quinoa | vegan
Perfectly Cooked Quinoa
Today I’m going to show you how to perfectly cook quinoa! As I mentioned last week, I’m going to be posting simple base recipes every once in a while that I will be integrating into larger recipes, so when I post a recipe that requires quinoa, you will be able to pop over to this base recipe. I even posted a cute video on my Instagram page, so check it out.
Quinoa is a staple in our house. I make quinoa at least two times a week and pair it with just about everything. I add it to salads, use it as a base for my favorite pasta sauces and pesto, warm it with a bit of almond milk for morning cereal, the list goes on and on. I have a load of quinoa recipes on the website, so feel free to check them out.
Fun Fact: Quinoa is naturally gluten-free, high in protein (one cup provides 8 grams), is richer in calcium than milk, and an important plant source of all nine essential amino acids. It’s also high in fiber (one cup provides 5 grams) good source of antioxidants, manganese, and iron.
Since I’m staying away from gluten, it gives me that carb-like satisfaction. I make it all the time, so I’ve discovered the ideal liquid ratio that gives you perfectly cooked quinoa that’s not watery or over cooked.
Perfectly Cooked Quinoa
- 1 cup white quinoa, I love this quinoa from TruRoots, as it’s sprouted and pre-rinsed, so you don’t have to pre-rinse it
- 1 3/4 cup water, or bone broth, use bone-broth for added protein
- Big pinch of coarse sea salt
Rinse quinoa in fine mesh strainer, if you don’t buy pre-rinsed quinoa.
Get out a small pot with lid and add in quinoa, water and big pinch of salt.
Set pot over high heat and bring quinoa to a boil, give a stir, cover pot, turn heat down to low-simmer, and cook until all the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa’s germs look like lots of little spirals, 15-16 minutes.
Note: If you use tri-colored, red or black quinoa you may need to add 5 to 10 minutes to the cooking time.
Turn off heat, place a dry paper towel between the pot and lid, and let quinoa sit for 5 minutes.
Fluff with fork or spoon and enjoy! That’s all there is to it!
Here’s an amazing 5 minute warm quinoa cereal you can make tomorrow with this quinoa. It’s perfect for those upcoming busy fall mornings.
I love these one-pan Mexican quinoa wraps! They are sooo good!
These quinoa wraps with black beans, feta and avocado are also the bomb!
I love pouring my heirloom tomato soup over 1 cup of quinoa and then topping with a tablespoon of hemp seeds. I even posted a cute video of this lunch idea on my instagram page. This is a gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, protein filled lunch. Hemp seeds are a complete protein (1 TBL =3 grams) Hemp is loaded with 20 amino acids, (including the 9 essential) and contains the ideas 3:1 omega-6 to omega-3 ratios which help the body metabolize fat. Winner, winner lunch!
As you can see, I have tons of recipes that incorporate quinoa. Let me know which one you make! Take a photo and tag me on instagram and I’ll share your photo in my story.
Perfectly Cooked Quinoa
3
cups20
minutesIngredients
1 cup white quinoa, I love this quinoa from TruRoots, as it's sprouted and pre-rinsed, so you don't have to pre-rinse it
1 3/4 cup water, or bone broth, use bone-broth for added protein
Big pinch of coarse sea salt
Directions
Rinse quinoa in fine mesh strainer, if you don’t buy pre-rinsed quinoa.
Get out a small pot with lid and add in quinoa, water and big pinch of salt.
Set pot over high heat and bring quinoa to a boil, give a stir, cover pot, turn heat down to low-simmer, and cook until all the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa’s germs look like lots of little spirals, 15-16 minutes.
Turn off heat, place a dry paper towel between the pot and lid, and let quinoa sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork or spoon and enjoy! That’s all there is to it!
Quinoa facts
- If you use tri-colored, red or black quinoa you may need to add 5 to 10 minutes to the cooking time.
- Black and red quinoa won't stick together as much as white quinoa.
- Quinoa also doesn't get mushy, even when overcooked.
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Dairy free green goddess dressing. This is my dairy free, vegan take on a green goddess dressing. I wanted to create a tasty dairy free version, while focusing on keeping the ingredients ultra clean, so I used a coconut based yogurt @cocojune_organic that doesn’t contain gums, or other ingredients you can’t pronounce.
Comment “green” and I’ll DM you the recipe link.
The result, we love this dressing and have been making it on repeat. I love how creamy and vibrant this dressing is and how it coats each piece of lettuce. I also love how interchangeable the herbs are. You can truly use what you have on hand.
This dressing isn’t just for salads, you can use as a dip for veggies, sweet potato fries, or drizzle over grilled or roasted chicken. The possibilities are endless. 💕
#greengoddessdressing #greengoddesssalad #greengoddess #healthyfood #saladdressing #dairyfreesalad #dairyfreerecipes #vegandressing #vegansalad #salad #healthysalad #healthysalads
I want to share with you guys a simple lesson about reading ingredients. Here’s my favorite brand of coconut milk, Native Forest. As you can see, they have 2 kinds of the full fat unsweetened coconut milk, one is called simple, and one is classic. The difference here is in the ingredients, one contains guar gum and one doesn’t.
You really want to look at the labels and the ingredients, and not just trust the brand is the same across all products.
I love this Native Forest, Simple, because again it clearly states no quars, and if you look in the ingredients, you’ll see organic coconut milk, organic coconut, filtered water. Simple whole food ingredients, no added fillers, gums, or flavors. You always want to look for a BPA free cans and the USDA organic stamp, which means its certified organic, so there’s no GMO’s, pesticides etc.
What is guar gum, and why is it bad?
Guar gum, which is derived from the guar bean is a thickening agent that can wreak havoc on your digestive system by causing bloating, gas, and discomfort. It can disrupt the delicate balance of your gut microbiome, leading to inflammation and impaired nutrient absorption. It’s also seen a lot in non-dairy creamers or milks.
Was this helpful? If so, let me know in the comments below, 👇 as well as what else you would like to see, or know more about?
#readlabels #readfoodlabels #guargum #guthealth #guthealing #inflammationrelief #antiimflammatory
Easy buckwheat porridge. If you’re looking to switch up your morning bowl of oats, then give buckwheat a try. It has a chewy texture and mild flavor, that pairs with just about anything.
Comment ‘easy buckwheat’ and I’ll send you the recipe.
This buckwheat porridge is SO EASY to make, and is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan to boot, and the bonus is it takes under 15 minutes to whip up in the morning.
This breakfast is hubby approved. Steve tried this the other day and kept saying, “this is the best breakfast,” “man, this is SO good.” So if I can get my mountain biking, carb loving hubby to happily eat of bowl of this, then I think your family might love this too.
I love topping mine with blueberries, @socotahini and bee pollen!
#buckwheat #buckwheatporridge #buckwheatrecipes #porridgebowl #porridge #porridgelover #breakfastideas #breakfast #healthybreakfast #healthybreakfastclub #healthybreakfastideas
Rosemary & thyme turkey burgers. These are not your typical dry turkey burgers. The rosemary and thyme paired with the sautéed red onion give these burgers a pop of flavor, and the Dijon and avocado oil pump up the moisture. These burgers are also gluten-free and dairy-free.
Comment ‘turkey burger’ and I’ll DM you the recipe link.
I love topping these burgers on a big green salad and pairing them with my oven roasted sweet potato fries. Delish! #turkeyburger #turkeyburgers #burger #dairyfreeglutenfree #burgers #healthyfood
These vegan Mexican quinoa bowls have become a weekly staple in our house. They’re naturally vegan, but are full of flavor from the avocado tahini, and spicy chipotle tahini sauce.
Comment ‘vegan bowl’ and I’ll DM you the recipe.
These bowls are also great for those that are on the candida diet.
I ❤️ these bowls because they’re jam packed with plant protein, as quinoa is a complete protein, and beans when paired with the quinoa, make a complete protein too. This bowl is balanced and satisfying from the slow burning carbs, healthy fats, plant protein, and will honestly sustain you for hours.
These bowls are a great weeknight meatless dinner option, as I typically make the sauces ahead of time, (they literally take 5 minutes) so when it comes to dinner time, all I have to do is make the quinoa (takes under 20 minutes) and roast the sweet potatoes. I hope you give these a try, and that they become a go-to meatless dinner.
#candidadiet #candidacleanse #veganbowls #veganbowls #veganrecipes #veganrecipe #vegandinner #vegandinnerideas #healthyfood
Here’s the perfect snack for those of you trying to cut back on refined sugar. These healthy no bake cacao oat bars are super addicting, once you have a bite, you just can’t stop.
Comment ‘oat bars’ and I’ll DM you the recipe.
The great thing is you don’t have to feel guilty, as these are made with pretty healthy ingredients and are GF, DF and refined sugar free. I love having these on hand for that afternoon, or post lunch craving. They hit the spot perfectly. #healthy #healthysnacks #healthysnackideas #healthysnack #refinedsugarfree #norefinedsugar #healthydesserts #healthydessert #healthydessertrecipes #healthysnackrecipes
