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No matter if you eat a gluten-free diet or dabbled in the plant-based world... at one point or another, you've probably come across this nutty pseudo grain before. Quinoa has been getting a lot of attention over the past years, and rightfully so! Its high amount of quality protein (including all essential amino acids), iron, zinc, and fiber, as well as the delicate texture makes it a perfect add-on to anything from salads to hot dishes and even breakfasts.

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This is why we wanted to put the focus on this amazing food and show you 17 vegan quinoa recipes to choose from. Sometimes, we tend to end up eating the same meals over and over again - whereas a various diet could be as simple as switching rice or pasta for quinoa! Though it often is a little more on the expensive side, it's a good idea to try it out without implementing it as a staple food if you don't want to.

Especially if you think or feel like you're not getting enough protein on a plant-based vegan diet, adding some more quinoa is definitely a way to go here. You can also cook it in batches and use up over the next few days, making meal prep pretty easy. Although it's technically not a grain but actually a seed, we usually use it like we would starches. It has a pleasantly nutty taste and is incredibly easy to prepare - once you know how to.

How To Cook Quinoa

Before cooking quinoa, it's important that you rinse the dry seeds. Quinoa has a natural coating that can make it taste bitter or soapy and we definitely want to avoid that! Boxed quinoa is often pre-rinsed but you should give them a quick additional one to be sure.

Some people even soak their quinoa before cooking because it's said to make the seeds even more nutritious - but in the beginning and in everyday life, it's usually too inconvenient to do so. Another tip is to cook it with vegetable broth instead of water to give it an extra kick! 

For every cup of dry quinoa, you need about 2 cups liquid. This will give you 3 cups of cooked quinoa after 20 minutes of cooking. There are 3 main varieties of quinoa, including white, red, and black. We suggest you start with the white variety since it's the easiest to like.

So now that you know all of this, let's get right into the delicious recipe ideas for vegan quinoa meals!

1. Fiesta Quinoa Salad

Fiesta Quinoa Salad

Ingredients

  • 1 cup white quinoa, plus ¼ cup red quinoa, washed and drained
  • 1 cup fresh corn, off the cob
  • 2 cups filtered water
  • Pinch sea salt
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans
  • ½ cup finely diced yellow pepper
  • ½ cup diced tomatoes
  • ¼ cup cilantro leaves
Dressing:
  • 2 teaspoons lime zest
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons tamari
  • 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

Find the whole recipe & directions at Forks Over Knives

2. Curried Quinoa with Roasted Cauliflower

Vegan Quinoa Recipes

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Sea salt
  • 1 medium yellow onion
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon curry powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 can (14 ounces) light coconut milk
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • ⅓ cup raisins
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 4 cups baby arugula
  • Optional garnishes: 2 green onions, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes

Find the whole recipe & directions at Cookie And Kate

3. Easy Vegan Quinoa Apple Crumble

Vegan Quinoa Recipes

Ingredients

  • 3 heaping cups apple
  • 4 tablespoon coconut sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ cup melted coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • ¼ cup oat flour
  • ¾ cup quinoa flakes
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • Pinch sea salt

Find the whole recipe & directions at The Full Helping

4. Quinoa Curry Bowl

Vegan Quinoa Recipe

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup quinoa (dry)
  • 1 teaspoon granulated onion
  • 1½ teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 bag frozen “stir-fry blend” vegetables
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
  • 2 tablespoons tahini
  • ½ avocado
  • Sesame seeds for garnish

Find the whole recipe & directions at Forks Over Knives

5. Quinoa with Acorn Squash & Pomegranate

Quinoa Squash

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup of quinoa, cooked
  • 1 acorn or kabocha squash
  • 3/4 cup pomegranate seeds
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
  • 2 scallions, green parts only
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Zest of half a lemon
  • Salt and pepper

Find the whole recipe & directions at A Thought For Food

6. Colorful Beet Salad with Quinoa & Spinach

Quinoa Beet Salad

Ingredients

Salad
  • ½ cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
  • 1 cup frozen organic edamame
  • ⅓ cup slivered almonds
  • 1 medium raw beet
  • 1 medium-to-large carrot
  • 2 cups packed baby spinach or arugula
  • 1 avocado, cubed
Dressing
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh mint or cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Find the whole recipe & directions at Cookie And Kate

7. Moroccan Vegetable Quinoa Stew

vegan Quinoa Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 medium onion
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon coriander
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 3 small carrots
  • 3 small potatoes
  • 1 sweet potato
  • 1 small eggplant
  • 1 can (14½ oz) diced tomatoes
  • 5 cups water
  • 3 veggie stock cubes
  • 1 can (14½ oz) chickpeas
  • ½ cup dried apricots
  • Salt and pepper
  • A little fresh cilantro
  • 1 cup quinoa

Find the whole recipe & directions at Joy Of Yum

8. Buckwheat and Quinoa Pancakes

Quinoa Pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cup buckwheat flour
  • 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • Pinch salt
  • 1-2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 cups almond milk
  • 1 tbsp flax meal + 3 tbsp warm water
  • 1 tbsp agave or stevia to taste

Find the whole recipe & directions at The Full Helping

9. Quinoa Corn and Avocado Salad

Vegan Quinoa Recipes

Ingredients

  • 1½ cups cooked quinoa
  • 1½ cups frozen corn, thawed
  • 2 medium avocados, diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ½ medium red onion
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • Zest and juice of 1 lime
  • Sea salt to taste

Find the whole recipe & directions at Forks Over Knives

10. Easy Vegan Quinoa Meatballs

quinoa meatballs

Ingredients

  • 1 medium-large yellow onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ⅓ cup water
  • 5 oz. white crimini mushrooms
  • 1 tsp favorite all purpose seasoning
  • 2 cups cooked garbanzo beans
  • 3 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1 cup parsley
  • 1 cup cilantro
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • salt to taste

Find the whole recipe & directions at Vegalicious

11. Acorn Squash Stuffed with Quinoa Pilaf

Quinoa Stuffed Sqash

Ingredients

  • 1 acorn squash
  • salt and fresh ground pepper
  • ½ cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
  • ¼ cup sliced almonds
  • ½ cup roasted pumpkin seeds
  • ¼ cup dried tart cherries, chopped
  • 2 cups baby spinach, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano

Find the whole recipe & directions at E.A. Steward

12. Cinnamon Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

Quinoa Breakfast

Ingredients

Bowl
  • ½ cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1-2 cinnamon sticks
  • pinch of salt
  • piece of a vanilla bean
Toppings
  • toasted sliced almonds
  • toasted coconut flakes
  • peaches
  • raspberries
  • maple syrup

Find the whole recipe & directions at Love And Lemons

13. Quinoa Black Bean Tacos with Avocado

Quinoa Bean tacos

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped red onion
  • 2 large garlic cloves, pressed or minced
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground chili powder
  • ½ cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1 cup vegetable broth or water
  • 1 (14 ounce) can black beans
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 large avocado
  • 1 to 2 medium limes, juiced
  • 1 medium jalapeño
  • 1 handful fresh cilantro
  • 6 to 8 small, round corn tortillas
  • 1½ cups chopped romaine lettuce

Find the whole recipe & directions at Cookie And Kate

14. Cauliflower Falafel Veggie Burgers

Cauliflower Burger

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup uncooked quinoa
  • ½ large head of cauliflower
  • 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas
  • ½ cup chopped green onion
  • ½ cup lightly packed fresh cilantro leaves
  • ½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • 2 large cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • Pinch red pepper flakes
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1¼ cups old fashioned oats
  • Toasted buns, hummus, tomato, pickles and lettuce

Find the whole recipe & directions at Cookie And Kate

15. Bok Choi & Oyster Mushroom Quinoa

vegan quinoa mushroom

Ingredients

  • 2 King Oyster Mushrooms
  • 3 small bunches Bok Choi
  • 1/2 cup quinoa rinsed well + 1 cup water
  • 2 tbsp tamari
  • 1 tbsp sweet white miso
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • drizzle liquid sweetener
  • 1/4 tsp umami paste
  • 1/4 cup + 3 tbsp water
  • pea shoots

Find the whole recipe & directions at Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes

16. Quinoa with Kale & Roasted Butternut

Quinoa Millet

Ingredients

  • 1 small butternut or acorn squash
  • 3 cups finely chopped kale
  • 1⁄2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1⁄4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 small clove garlic
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1⁄2 cup dry/uncooked quinoa
  • 1⁄2 cup dry/uncooked millet
  • 1⁄3 cup slivered almonds
  • 1⁄4 cup raisins

Find the whole recipe & directions at Forks Over Knives

17. Apple Pie Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

quinoa-breakfast

Ingredients

  • 1 small ripe banana mashed
  • 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon coconut palm sugar
  • 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 cup apple diced (rest on top)
  • 1/3 cup quinoa hot cereal flakes
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 3 tablespoons cashew (or other nut) milk

Find the whole recipe & directions at nutritionicity

Have you been trying some of these vegan quinoa recipes? Which ones did you like the most? Let us know in the comments below.

About the Author

Alena has been eating a plant-based diet for 6 years and is passionate about sharing her learnings in the fields of nutrition, wellbeing, and vegan ethics. She is the co-creator of nutriciously and loves music, reading, nature, traveling, yoga & good food. Alena received training in the fields of nutrition, music therapy, and social work.

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