Turmeric Quinoa
Turmeric quinoa is a delicious and healthy recipe that will come in handy if you are planning a feast or a romantic candlelit dinner. It’s easy to cook, affordable, and deliciously aromatic.
Tired of the same old recipe? This one’s for you. Spicing things up with this colorful quinoa dish featuring turmeric.
This turmeric quinoa recipe is a unique vegetarian option that is full of the antioxidant power of turmeric.
The combination is just unbeatable. The quinoa is cooked with turmeric, ginger, garlic, and spices, then paired with veggies, chickpeas, and covered in a flavorful sauce.
Additionally, it takes only 20 minutes to prepare. That’s it; you will be having a bowl of delicious turmeric Quinoa in just half an hour, which is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and can be easily made soy-free.
It is perfect for lunch, dinner and it also makes a great side dish. This is definitely a must-try recipe so make sure you don’t forget it!
Scroll down for the detailed recipe, but I suggest you don’t skip the information included in the blurb.
See Best Quinoa Recipes and How To Cook Quinoa?
What Is Quinoa?
Quinoa (pronounced ‘keen-wah’) is a high-protein ancient ‘grain’ that is simple to cook. It’s not a genuine grain but rather a seed from the goosefoot plant. Other plants that are also members of the goosefoot family are spinach, Swiss chard, and beets.
Quinoa has a light, fluffy texture and delicate flavor, making it a great alternative to rice or couscous. It is also the perfect alternative to starchy potato and pasta, and it is also gluten-free.
Quinoa Types
There are many varieties of quinoa, and the seeds are in many colors; even though white is the most popular here in the USA, we can also find black and red seeds.
- White quinoa has the mildest flavor and the softest texture of all the quinoa varieties.
- Red quinoa has a crunchier texture and a more earthy flavor.
- Black quinoa has the most flavor and texture.
All these three varieties can be prepared in the same way.
Quinoa’s Nutritional Profile
Quinoa is a very nutritious ‘grain,’ having many health benefits; it has been enjoyed for thousands of years by the Incas. Quinoa includes all nine necessary amino acids, making it a complete protein.
It is rich in iron, iron is needed to produce red blood cells, and iron carries oxygen from one cell to another.
Quinoa is rich in fiber, unlike animal protein which is devoid of fiber. Fiber is necessary for proper bowel function, preventing bowel cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
The fiber in quinoa makes you feel full for longer, and it helps with weight loss.
What Is Turmeric?
Turmeric is a ginger family flowering plant. Curcuma longa is its scientific name. Turmeric’s rhizome stems, or underground root system, have been used to make tea for thousands of years. It is also called Indian saffron or Golden spice.
Turmeric Health Benefits
Turmeric has a number of compounds that may benefit your health. Curcumin is the most well-known. Curcumin’s ability to alleviate depression and improve the efficacy of antidepressants has piqued the interest of scientists. However, research findings have been mixed thus far.
Curcumin could be a beneficial tool for preventing or treating type 2 diabetes since it can help combat inflammation and maintain blood sugar levels. Curcumin supplementation was observed to reduce the risk of developing diabetes in 240 persons with prediabetes over the course of nine months in one research. Although research is ongoing, the majority of studies to date have focused on animals rather than humans.
Curcumin has been shown to help prevent and treat a variety of viruses, including flu and herpes. (However, the majority of this research was conducted in a lab rather than on humans.) Please note that turmeric has only 3% curcumin, and the body has a hard time absorbing curcumin, so a cup of tea would not be a miracle cure.
Curcumin supplements eased PMS symptoms in a recent trial of women over the course of three successive menstrual cycles. A study on guinea pig and rat muscles reveal that turmeric may also provide relief from menstrual cramps.
The evidence on turmeric’s potential to protect your heart is mixed. In some trials, turmeric has been shown to reduce LDL “bad” cholesterol; in others, the spice had no impact. Scientists are still researching turmeric’s heart-protective properties. Turmeric has been shown in a small trial to help prevent heart attacks in patients who have undergone bypass surgery.
Chronic inflammation is a common symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, and turmeric appears to have anti-inflammatory properties. So, does turmeric help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease? Sorry, but there isn’t enough scientific data to suggest that taking turmeric can help avoid the disease.
Turmeric’s ability to alleviate joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness has demonstrated promise.
Turmeric has been shown to halt tumor cell development, improve the function of detoxifying enzymes, and more in lab and animal experiments. Additionally, turmeric has the potential to interact with some chemotherapy medications.
How To Cook Turmeric Quinoa?
Making this Turmeric Quinoa is quite simple and easy. You will require a few handfuls of simple ingredients and a few simple steps to follow:
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry quinoa (3-4 cups cooked)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-inch ginger, grated
- 1 medium carrot cut into thin strips
- 3 spring onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 11/2 cups cooked chickpeas or 1(15-ounce can) chickpeas
- Pinch of Cayenne pepper (optional)
- 3 cups vegetable broth, or (3 cups water plus 2 vegan bouillon cubes)
- ½ cup coconut milk
- Salt to taste
- 1 cup Baked Tofu, *link to the recipe
Instructions
- Rinse quinoa using a fine-mesh strainer. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, add onions, and cook until soft for about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger, spring onions, and carrots, and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Stir in curry powder, turmeric, cumin, cook until fragrant, one minute.
- Add chickpeas, quinoa, and cayenne and coat with spices and vegetables, stirring for a minute.
- Add vegetable broth or water plus bouillon cubes, coconut milk, and salt to taste.
- Cover pot and reduce to simmer, cook for 20 minutes or until quinoa is tender. Fluff with a fork and remove from heat.
Serving Ideas
Here are a few meal options that would go well with turmeric quinoa:
- Instant Pot Pinto Beans
- Vegan White Bean Soup
- Curry Tofu With Cauliflower
- Instant Pot Chickpea Curry
- Eggplant Chickpea Curry
- Gluten-Free Vegan Sausage
- Instant Pot Vegan Mexican Meatball Soup
I paired mine with a simple Black Chickpeas Stew for a few friends, and they loved it. This dish is also best served hot with a side of greens or roasted vegetables for an easy meal that will satisfy even your pickiest eaters!
Storing Instructions
Cooked quinoa can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. However, make sure to cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or up to 2-3 months in the freezer. Quinoa should never be left out at room temperature for longer than two hours.
Recipe Notes
- Before cooking quinoa, be sure to rinse it in a fine-mesh strainer thoroughly. This removes the seeds’ bitter saponin coating.
- I cooked quinoa in vegetable broth, which gives it a nice flavor. You could also swap out the vegetable broth with chicken broth if you prefer.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Happens If You Don’t Rinse quinoa?
Rinsing the quinoa extracts the saponin and thus the bitter flavor. Quinoa, on the other hand, is difficult to rinse. It also implies you can’t toast your quinoa unless you’re ready to wait hours for it to dry.
Is Eating Quinoa A Good Way To Lose Weight?
Gluten-free pseudo-grain is good for your heart and digestive system. It could also help with long-term weight loss and blood sugar control. Indeed, nutritionists and other health practitioners commonly advocate quinoa as a weight-loss alternative to high-carb grains.
Does Quinoa Have a Shelf Life?
Quinoa may be stored for months if it isn’t opened. When you open the packaging, there isn’t much difference. Quinoa has a shelf life of two to three years and can easily keep months over its expiration date.
Prepared quinoa can be stored in the fridge or freezer for subsequent use if you run out of time.
Is Quinoa Healthier Than Rice?
Quinoa and rice have similar calorie and fiber content. Quinoa has the upper hand because it is a more nutritious ingredient that may be used to round out a well-balanced diet. It contains all essential amino acids, whereas brown rice has only a handful.
Where Can I Purchase Quinoa?
Quinoa is available at most supermarkets and health food stores. It’s also available on Amazon.
Give this a shot. It’s incredibly delicious and super easy. And as always, I would love to hear from you. So if you like and enjoy this recipe, please leave a comment to let me know about your feedback.
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Turmeric Quinoa
Ingredients
- 2 cups quinoa uncooked (3-4 cups cooked)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1- inch ginger grated
- 1 medium carrot cut into thin strips
- 3 green onions chopped
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas or 1 (15-ounce) can
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 3 cups vegetable broth or (3 cups water plus 1-2 vegan bouillon cubes)
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- Salt to taste
- 1 cup baked tofu optional, Link to recipe
Instructions
- Rinse quinoa using a fine-mesh strainer. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, add onions, and cook until soft for about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger, spring onions, and carrots, and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Stir in curry powder, turmeric, cumin, cook until fragrant, one minute.
- Add chickpeas, quinoa, and cayenne and coat with spices and vegetables, stirring for a minute.
- Add vegetable broth or water plus bouillon cubes, coconut milk, and salt to taste.
- Cover pot and reduce to simmer, cook for 20 minutes or until quinoa is tender. Fluff with a fork and remove from heat.
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This is interesting, first time to know about this recipe, and would love to try it. Thank you for sharing!
Quinoa is a seed that turns into a rice texture when boiled so it’s a great rice replacement since its healthier. most people don’t enjoy its flavor boiled but this version is packed with so much flavor that this would be a great first-time experience to try quinoa. hope you give it a try & let me know your thoughts on it.