Hi guys, I know a lot of us associate quinoa with salads and sides, but today I’m making a one pot Mexican quinoa. This veggie dish uses quinoa in a more winter friendly way and makes a really quick and easy dinner. It’s loaded with vegetables and would be great for meal prep too.
Quinoa is now well known for its health benefits. It’s a good source of plant based protein, high fibre, contains a range of B vitamins and is gluten free too. Its origins are in the Andean mountains, a staple in Peruvian diets for years before we caught on and started growing it across Europe too. Although Peru and Bolivia still produce 97% of the world’s quinoa.
Traditional Peruvian recipes use quinoa more as an ingredient in soups and stews than a stand alone dish.
Clearly, you know that’s not how we’re making it today, but I thought it would be interesting to add a little food history before the recipe.
This dish combines traditional flavours you’d usually find in a Mexican dish, and you can make this however you want it. It makes a great meal alone, or you could bake it in some tortillas and make them enchilada style. This dish can be eaten hot or cold.
It’s really easy to adapt too and add in or switch out vegetables depending on your preferences.
This recipe is vegan, gluten free, dairy free, soy free and nut free.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 large carrot, roughly chopped
- A red pepper, roughly chopped
- 150g chestnut mushrooms, roughly chopped
- 100g baby corn, roughly chopped
- 1tbsp smoked paprika
- ½ tbsp ground cumin
- 100g quinoa
- 2tbsp tomato paste
- 300ml vegetable stock
Method
- In a large saucepan, add onion and garlic with a splash of water and cook on a medium heat for 4-5 minutes until onion starts to become tender.
- Add spices and cook for another minute. Then add a small amount of vegetable stock, just enough to cover the bottom of the pan. Proceed to add all of the remaining vegetables, stir to combine and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.
- Then add the dry quinoa to the pan, stir constantly for about a minute. Now add the remaining stock and the tomato paste. Stir to combine.
- Reduce the heat to a low simmer and place the lid on the pan. Leave to cook for 25 minutes, until quinoa has cooked. Check and stir occasionally, adding more hot water if necessary.
Serve and enjoy!
How do you like to eat your quinoa? Are you on board with something like this or are you strictly a salad kind of person? And what did you think about the introduction to quinoa at the beginning? Is that something you’d like me to do more of? Let me know your thoughts!
Until next time,
Sophie
To see my previous dinner recipes, click here.
I’ve actually never heard of quinoa cooked this way before so I’m very much intrigued. Also, I love that quinoa has really good benefits. Unfortunately, I’ve only tasted it once or twice before and wasn’t too keen on the taste/texture of quinoa 🙁
☼ cabin twenty-four
I just made a big batch of risotto for my lunch boxes for the week but this is on my list next! Paprika and cumin are some of my fav spices! I don’t cook quinoa often but this recipe will defo make me change that!
I really love Mexican food, all of the flavours are just amazing! This sounds like a really interesting dish with really lovely ingredients xx
This looks seriously SO yummy! I love quinoa personally so I will definitely be giving this a go!
How do you . always keep thinking of new ideas! I’d run out of meal ideas after like 2 adventurous ideas haha! But as usual your photos are amazing and this does nothing less of making my mouth water!
I very rarely eat quinoa but I’d definitely like to try make more meals with it. I really liked the little factual bit at the beginning. I definitely learnt something new from that. Another great recipe, thanks for sharing!
I absolutely adore quinoa, it is one of the most delicious things! This looks so good!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
This looks scrumptious thanks for sharing!
Ive actually never tried quinoa but have heard great things about it, and seen some recipes I want try. I love Mexican food so this would definitely be something I’d enjoy earing, thanks for sharing.
Love how everything was made with just one pot. I love Mexican dishes and know this would be a favorite too. I like that the prep time is so short – perfect to prepare before going to work for lunch! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
I must admit I’ve never tried many dishes with quinoa in it but this recipe sounds amazing and so flavourful. Thanks for sharing! X
I’m actually not a fan of quinoa at all but maybe that’s just how I’ve tried it in the past. This, on the other hand, sounds delicious, full of flavours and spices. As always, your photos are quite mouthwateringly tempting, Sophie! xx
Lisa | http://www.lisasnotebook.com
I LOVE quinoa but I’m only just discovering Mexican food, do you think this dish would work well if you put it into some tortilla wraps? I’m thinking maybe some avocado too…always room for an avocado in there haha :’) always feel SO inspired after visiting your blog Sophie! x x
Ellis // http://www.elliswoolley.co.uk
I think it would be amazing as a burrito in a wrap with or without the avocado! I’m reaching a point where I’m making my recipe post at about 3 in the afternoon to make sure I’ve got good light so I’m never hungry enough to do anything creative with them . Thank you so much, that’s so nice to hear
This sounds really good! I’ve only had quinoa once, but I’d like to try it again. 🙂
This looks amazing! I’m definitely gonna try this as it gets into winter xx
Yet another recipe that I just had to save Sophie!! I love quinoa, and I love mushrooms, so I’m super excited to try this out asap xx
I’ve tried Quinoa a few times but it was always pre-made microwave stuff from the shop so I wasn’t a HUGE fan but I have no doubt that making a recipe from scratch would taste much nicer. I’d definitely give this a go!
This recipe looks delicious! I LOVE some good Mexican style food!
This dish is a great way to incorporate a meatless diet and still get some yummy Mexican style flavors going on! I’ll probably be trying this for one of my Meatless Monday meals!
Thanks for sharing!!
~ Ray
Thanks for the mini history lesson about quinoa, it’s nice to know the background to what we eat. Typically, I eat my quinoa in tortilla shells with eggs, black beans, avocado, spinach, picante sauce, jalapeno and bacon. It’s so yummy 🙂
Natonya | https://justnatonya.wordpress.com/
Found my Monday lunch. Thanks!
This meal looks so nice. I love the intro and I have found a rice quinoa mix so I have quinoa like that. I definitely want to try this recipe out though xx
TheFashionnBlogger
This recipe sounds DELICIOUS! I’ve got to try it!
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