Clean Eating Garlic Parmesan Quinoa Recipe (2024)

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If you love the idea of cheesy quinoa, you have to give this garlic parmesan quinoa a try.

This is a wonderful summertime picnic or family gathering dish. Take it to potlucks or even a company party, and I think you’ll find that most people really enjoy it.

Clean Eating Garlic Parmesan Quinoa Recipe (1)

If you’ve never had quinoa before, I highly recommend it. It’s technically a seed, not a grain. But we treat it like a grain because it gets cooked like most grains. It also happens to have all nine essential amino acids. So just like meat, it’s a complete protein. Not bad for a tiny little seed!

What Does Quinoa Taste Like?

Quinoa has a unique flavor that is a bit earthy, as millet would be. But if prepared properly, it’s very mild, like rice.

What Can I Add To Quinoa To Make It Taste Good?

The answer to this has two parts.

  1. Before you cook your quinoa, you must always rinse it well. This will remove all of the bitter flavors that you get if you don’t rinse it. So the main way to make quinoa taste good happens before you ever cook it.
  2. Once cooked, you have to season it like you would any other grain. For some people, you’ll want to season it a little heavier than you would rice.

How Do You Rinse Quinoa?

Measure how much quinoa you want, and put it into a fine mesh sieve. Run it under cold running water. You will see that if foams a bit. Rinse all of that off until the water runs clear. Move the quinoa around in the sieve with your fingers to make sure you rinse all of it.

How Much Quinoa Per Person?

For cooked quinoa, about 1 cup per person will do. It may be a little less or a little more for some people, but 1 cup is about average.

What Can I Add To Quinoa After It’s Cooked?

Anything you want! Like rice, it’s very versatile. But here are some ideas:

  • Fresh parsley or other fresh herbs
  • Black pepper
  • Spinach
  • Kale
  • Mushrooms
  • Bell peppers
  • Fruit
  • Cheese

What Goes Well With Quinoa?

As a side dish, you can serve this with any meat or vegetable. Flavor it according to what you are serving it with. In the case of this recipe, good choices would be chicken, fish, pork, steak, and any vegetables you want to have as a side.

Recipe Tip

Don’t add any salt during cooking. Wait until the whole recipe is made. The parmesan cheese adds lots of salty flavors, so taste it before adding salt.

Clean Eating Garlic Parmesan Quinoa Recipe (2)

About Garlic Parmesan Quinoa Ingredients

Uncooked quinoa– Rinsed well under running water.

Low-sodium chicken broth– No sugar added.

Garlic granules– Or garlic powder.

Grated parmesan cheese – The real stuff. Avoid things like Kraft parmesan. It won’t melt properly.

Cherry tomatoes– You can also use grape tomatoes. Cut any small tomato you use in half.

Fresh basil

How To Make Garlic Parmesan Quinoa

Follow the package directions to cook the quinoa, but substitute the water with chicken broth.

When done, fluff with a fork and allow to cool enough so the cheese won’t melt when you add it.

Stir in the garlic powder and parmesan cheese.

Add the tomatoes and fresh basil.

Stir well and serve.

Storing Garlic Parmesan Quinoa

Store leftovers in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freezing Garlic Parmesan Quinoa

Freezing is not recommended for this recipe.

Reheating Garlic Parmesan Quinoa

Reheat this in a microwave or in the oven in an oven-safe dish.

More Healthy Quinoa Recipes

  • Cranberry Pecan Quinoa Salad
  • Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
  • Mushroom Quinoa Salad

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Garlic Parmesan Quinoa Recipe Card

Clean Eating Garlic Parmesan Quinoa Recipe (4)

Garlic Parmesan Quinoa Recipe

A deliciouis side dish or vegetarian main course.

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Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 198kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup uncooked quinoa (rinsed well)
  • 2 cups low sodium chicken broth (no sugar added)
  • 1 tbsp. garlic granules (or garlic powder)
  • 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • ½ lb. cherry tomatoes (or grape tomatoes, halved)
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil

Instructions

  • Follow the package directions to cook the quinoa, but substitute the water with chicken broth.

  • When done, fluff with a fork and allow to cool enough so the cheese won't melt when you add it.

  • Stir in the garlic powder and parmesan cheese.

  • Add the tomatoes and fresh basil.

  • Stir well and serve.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data given here is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 322mg | Potassium: 359mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 386IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 171mg | Iron: 2mg

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Clean Eating Garlic Parmesan Quinoa Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How much quinoa per person? ›

How to cook quinoa perfectly every time. You'll need about 50g of quinoa per person (make sure to rinse it first) and chicken or vegetable stock. We can't emphasise using stock enough. It really makes a difference to the flavour, yet is subtle enough not to distract from your final dish.

What food goes well with quinoa? ›

Quinoa's got the carbs covered, so you'll likely want to add some additional protein (eggs, lentils, beans, tofu, chicken), a fat (olive oil, nuts, butter, cheese), and, ideally, some kind of fruit or vegetable (broccoli, berries, squash, spinach).

How to make 2 cups of cooked quinoa? ›

If you want 2 cups of cooked quinoa, measure out 2/3 cup of dry quinoa, etc. To cook the quinoa, you will use a 2:1 ratio of liquid to quinoa, or 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of dry quinoa.

Why do I feel better after eating quinoa? ›

Quinoa is a nutritious choice for people looking for plant-based protein sources—it's a complete protein, containing all nine of the essential amino acids. Plus, its dietary fiber may help improve your digestion. Likewise, its fiber and protein content can help make you feel more satiated than other grains.

Is 1 cup of quinoa too much? ›

You can eat one-two cups of cooked quinoa in a day. You should avoid eating it if you experience stomachache, itchiness or vomiting after consuming it. A study by Harvard Public School of Health has reported that eating a bowl of quinoa daily is healthy and without any side effects.

How many cups of quinoa should you eat a day? ›

Quinoa can be consumed anytime – at breakfast, lunch or dinner. But it is best to eat healthy food like quinoa before going to bed. It induces sleep, because it relaxes the muscles, due to its high magnesium and protein content. “One can eat one-two cups of cooked quinoa in a day.

How much quinoa does 1 cup make? ›

Now that your quinoa is rinsed or toasted, it's time to cook it. For 1 cup of uncooked quinoa, you'll want to use 2 cups of water—this will yield 3 cups of cooked quinoa. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower the temperature to medium-low and pop the lid on securely.

What is the best time to eat quinoa? ›

Due to its high fibre-content, quinoa should be eaten during the day time, i.e., during breakfast or lunch. Our metabolism process tends to slow down as the day progresses. So, the body is unable to digest the high fibre food towards the end of the day.

What is the healthiest way to eat quinoa? ›

Toss it in salads.

Quinoa is a complete source of protein and makes a great addition to a healthy salad. The combination of fiber, protein and healthy fats can turn a light side salad into a robust entrée.

Can you toast quinoa and eat it? ›

Can you eat quinoa toasted? Quinoa is delicious toasted. Toasted quinoa can be eaten without boiling it as a crunchy topping to yogurt, oatmeal, salads, or to replace breadcrumbs as a topping on something like mac and cheese. You can also grind it into toasted quinoa flour.

What color quinoa is best? ›

White, red, or black? They're pretty much all the same nutritionally—so go with what tastes best to you, says Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, owner of Nutrition Starring You, LCC. White quinoa is the least bitter of the three, while red and black have a chewier texture that holds up better in cold dishes like salads.

What happens if you don't rinse quinoa? ›

It wasn't a huge difference in texture, but definitely noticeable. Rinsing quinoa definitely starts to hydrate the seeds. Flavor – In terms of flavor, the unrinsed quinoa definitely had a nuttier, earthier flavor, but I didn't find it bitter at all. The rinsed quinoa was definitely milder and the flavors more muted.

How do you fix bland quinoa? ›

20 Ways To Liven Up Bland Quinoa
  1. Toast your quinoa before you cook it. Felix Marx/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Splash in some orange juice. ...
  3. Boil in some beef broth. ...
  4. Mix in some fresh chopped herbs. ...
  5. Add a spoonful of pesto. ...
  6. Stir in crumbled feta or goat cheese. ...
  7. Toss in some chopped nuts. ...
  8. Add in diced, dried fruit like raisins.
Aug 12, 2023

How do you make quinoa not gross? ›

Unless you prefer the more pronounced, earthier taste of the seed, I recommend giving it a quick rinse under cool running water, which gets rid of its natural coating that can cause a bitter taste. Even if the box says it is pre-washed, I find it doesn't hurt to give the quinoa another rinse.

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