Top 5 Healthy Quinoa Recipes
Quinoa is one of the best carbohydrate substitutions you make on a healthy diet. This little “grain,” as people often mistakenly call it, is actually a seed. And it’s packed full of protein, healthy complex carbs, and fiber to fill you up and boost your metabolism.
It also has a pretty high vitamin and mineral content, making it ideal for people trying to lose weight, get fit, or build muscle.
Today, I’m reviewing 5 of the best quinoa recipes to support a healthy, whole foods diet. I recommend adding quinoa to your diet whenever possible!
Top 5 Quinoa Recipes to Keep You Fit!
1. Quinoa & Tofu Salad – This first pick is a great vegetarian meal option for dinner or lunch, or alternatively, it can be used as a healthy side dish.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of quinoa, cooked according to package instructions
- ¼ cup of lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 small package of firm tofu, diced
- 1 small green pepper, diced
- 1 cup of grape of cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 1 cup of cucumber, diced
- ½ cup of fresh mint, chopped
- ½ cup of fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions: Allow cooked quinoa to cool in the fridge for an hour. Then mix in lemon juice and olive oil and coat thoroughly. Add in remaining ingredients and mix well. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
2. Simple Quinoa – Looking for something a little simpler? This is the easiest way you can prepare quinoa. Use this recipe as a side dish or add chicken or shrimp for a more complete meal.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of quinoa, cooked according to package instructions
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 small zucchini, diced
- 1 cup of frozen peas
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions: In a large skillet, heat zucchini and frozen peas in 1 tablespoon of olive oil until just tender. Add garlic, remaining olive oil, and cooked quinoa. Stir gently to combine, and add salt and pepper to taste. Makes 5 or 6 servings.
3. Toasted Quinoa Salad with Scallops – This one’s super tasty, and it’s great for all the seafood lovers out there. Substitute with grilled chicken if you’d like.
Ingredients:
