Quinoa Vegetable Pilaf (Print Version)

Fluffy quinoa tossed with roasted seasonal vegetables, garlic, and fresh herbs for a nutritious and colorful dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups vegetable broth or water

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 small zucchini, diced
05 - 1 small carrot, peeled and diced
06 - 1 small red onion, diced
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Aromatics & Seasonings

09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Fresh Herbs & Finish

14 - 0.25 cup chopped fresh parsley
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, optional
16 - Juice of 0.5 lemon

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
02 - On a large baking sheet, toss bell pepper, zucchini, carrot, red onion, and cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
03 - Roast vegetables in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring once, until golden and tender.
04 - Combine rinsed quinoa and vegetable broth in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
05 - Fluff quinoa with a fork.
06 - In a large skillet, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in cumin, thyme, and smoked paprika.
07 - Add cooked quinoa and roasted vegetables to the skillet. Toss gently to combine and warm through.
08 - Remove from heat. Add parsley, mint if using, and lemon juice. Toss well and adjust seasoning as needed.
09 - Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's one of those dishes that works equally well as a warm main course or room-temperature lunch the next day, which means less thinking about leftovers.
  • The roasted vegetables actually taste like themselves, caramelized and sweet, not mushy or bland.
  • It comes together faster than you'd expect and feels wholesome without any of the self-denial that can come with healthy eating.
02 -
  • Rinsing quinoa really does matter and takes less time than you think—skipping it leaves a bitter coating that no amount of herbs can hide.
  • Don't add the fresh herbs while everything is still hot or they'll wilt into invisibility; wait until you're off the heat so they stay bright and defined.
  • Room-temperature leftovers are just as good as warm, sometimes better, because the flavors have more time to get to know each other.
03 -
  • Make this in a big batch on Sunday and you'll eat it all week without boredom because it's genuinely good at every temperature.
  • The lemon juice is non-negotiable—it's what separates this from tasting earnest and healthy to tasting actually bright and alive.
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