Thai Coconut Quinoa Bowl (Printer View)

Creamy coconut quinoa with fresh vegetables and zesty peanut dressing. A vibrant 40-minute meal perfect for healthy eating.

# Components:

→ Coconut Quinoa

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 1 cup coconut milk, full-fat or light
03 - 1 cup water
04 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced
06 - 1 cup carrot, julienned or shredded
07 - 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
08 - 1 cup purple cabbage, shredded
09 - ½ cup edamame, cooked and shelled
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
11 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

→ Peanut Dressing

12 - ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
13 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce, gluten-free if needed
14 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
15 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
16 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
17 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
18 - 1 to 2 tablespoons warm water as needed

# Method:

01 - Combine quinoa, coconut milk, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, keep covered, and let rest for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
02 - While quinoa cooks, slice red bell pepper thinly, julienne or shred carrot, slice cucumber and purple cabbage. Cook edamame if not already prepared. Set all vegetables aside.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, maple syrup or honey, and sesame oil. Gradually add warm water one tablespoon at a time, whisking until smooth and pourable consistency is achieved.
04 - Divide coconut quinoa evenly among four bowls. Top each portion with equal amounts of sliced vegetables and edamame.
05 - Drizzle each bowl generously with peanut dressing. Garnish with chopped cilantro and sesame seeds. Serve immediately or refrigerate for a chilled presentation.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like takeout but leaves you feeling energized instead of sluggish.
  • The coconut quinoa is creamy enough to feel indulgent without any guilt.
  • You can prep all the vegetables in the time it takes the quinoa to cook.
  • The peanut dressing keeps for a week and makes everything taste better.
02 -
  • Do not skip rinsing the quinoa or you will wonder why it tastes bitter and soapy.
  • Add the warm water to the dressing slowly, too much and it becomes runny and loses its cling.
  • Let the cooked quinoa rest covered off the heat, it absorbs the last bit of moisture and becomes perfectly fluffy.
03 -
  • Toast the sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before sprinkling them on, it makes them nutty and fragrant.
  • If the dressing thickens in the fridge, just whisk in a teaspoon of warm water to bring it back to life.
  • Double the quinoa and dressing recipe so you have ready-to-go lunches all week without any extra effort.
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