Thai Fried Quinoa is a healthier riff on fried rice, and is full of aromatic Thai flavors, including coconut, ginger, cilantro and lime.
On the last episode of Ben’s Not Home For Dinner, I got up-close and personal with a creamy, comforting Tuna Noodle Casserole. A dish that I happen to adore, but my man won’t touch with a 10 foot pole.
On tonight’s episode we feature an entree that is not only meatless, but also contains a slightly sweet element, otherwise known as meh and nuh-uh in my husband’s world.
Ben’s been in Vegas since Friday night for a bachelor party (?) and while I can’t wait to see his smiling face when he gets home tonight, I’ve been loving the recipes chock-full of Kristin-friendly ingredients I’ve made in his absence, like tonight’s dinner of Thai Fried Quinoa.
Coconut milk-infused quinoa is stir fried with ginger, garlic, pineapple and peas, then drizzled with a lime-soy sauce, and topped with chopped peanuts. AKA, my dream meal, but something Ben would just rather…not.
To be fair, peas are his fourth favorite food after potatoes, turkey and ketchup, and I did overhear him telling my Dad how awesome! quinoa is last week (so adorable)Â But you know what I mean!
Start by rinsing 1 cup quinoa under water in a fine mesh strainer, then add it to a saucepan. Pour in 1 cup each chicken broth and lite coconut milk.
Tip: shake your can of coconut milk before you open it. The fat in the milk rises to the top and sticks to the lid otherwise.
Bring the liquid to a boil then place a lid on top, lower the heat to medium low (about a 3.5 out of 10) and let the quinoa simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until it’s tender and cooked through.
While the quinoa is cooking, heat a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat, then give it a good coating with non-stick spray. Add 2 chopped green onions, 1 Tablespoon grated ginger, and 2 teaspoons minced garlic then cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly as to not burn the garlic.
BTW, I made the rookie mistake of going grocery shopping during the mad Saturday afternoon rush this weekend, and by the time I got to the fresh ginger, it was all gone. I paid through the nose for this tube of pre-grated ginger, but I’m actually kind of loving the convenience factor!
Next add 1 cup frozen peas, 1-8oz can pineapple tidbits (drained), and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro to the hot wok.
Cook for an additional minute or two, giving the peas time to heat through.
Lookin’ good already!
Next push the ingredients up the side of the wok to create a clear space in the center.
Add 2 whisked eggs, and scramble them up using a spatula. When they’re cooked, toss everything together to combine.
Finally, add in the cooked quinoa,
2 Tablespoons soy sauce or gluten-free tamari (dish will not be GF if using soy sauce) and the juice of 1/2 a lime.
Toss it all together then scoop into bowls, top with chopped peanuts, and enjoy!
Stop what you are doing this very minute, go to the grocery store, buy the ingredients for this dish, and make a double batch. That is a direct order.
That is to say, this is ab incredible dish! A light tropical scent hits your nose before you take a bite, then blammo – flavor explosion. Spicy ginger, savory garlic, sweet pineapple, and fragrant coconut. I adore this recipe!
Caterina 04.01.2012
Thank you SO much for this recipe! Just made it and had it. Me and my boyfriend LOVED it! Thanks again all the way from Amsterdam :)
Marianne 03.31.2012
What could you use instead of pineapple? Allergic.
Iowa Girl Eats 04.03.2012
Hmmm…maybe mango? I’d add it in at the end though, just to get it warmed through and not cooked.
Allison 04.10.2012
oranges !! i didn’t have any pineapple on hand and with oranges it gives a great color and delicious taste ! :)
Thai Chicken Quinoa Bowl | sugar coated 03.29.2012
[…] Barely Adapted From Iowa Girl Eats […]
Renee 03.29.2012
I am totally trying this recipe. I agree with Katie my hubs is a meat and potatoes kind of guy too and he hates onions, so I may have to omit those in his dish. I’m hoping the kids will like it too!
Susanne 03.29.2012
Wow! I am trying your recipe at the moment and it is absolutely delicious!
Katie Schaier 03.29.2012
Hello! I just wanted to say that I am REALLY enjoying your blog, it inspires me all the time! I also love all your recipes showing the versatility of quinoa, BUT my hubby really doesn’t like it. :( The first time I made it for him, I made it with plain water…and I’m not sure I rinsed it well enough, so he thought it tasted gross. I’m trying to reintroduce it to him, but he always finds out when I try to sneak it to him. Do you have any amazing quinoa recipes that a pure meat and potatoes kind of guy would be willing to try? Thanks!
Iowa Girl Eats 03.29.2012
My meat & potatoes love husband inhaled these Mini Quinoa Cups! https://iowagirleats.com/recipes/?recipe_id=6017451
Lindsey 03.28.2012
I just made this tonight, and it was DELISH! For me, the pineapples MADE it. And unlike your hubby, I’m not a big pea fan but I loved them in this.
I followed your recipe exactly, and next time I will increase garlic, onions, and ginger. It smelled so good cooking and then got lost in the giant ball of quinoa that landed in the pan next. Overall though I loved it, and my fiance liked it too. Thanks!
Tricia 03.28.2012
NUM!!! Just made this for dinner and the hubs liked it, too!! Thanks girl!
Madelyn 03.28.2012
This recipe looks great and I love using quinoa, but I hate the rinsing step because I don’t have a strainer. Where did you get the one you use? I’ve never been able to find one that seems fine enough.. Thanks if you can share.
Iowa Girl Eats 03.29.2012
I got one for $4.99 or so at Walmart, actually! Just make sure you get the “stainless steel” one, otherwise it will rust!
LissKB 03.28.2012
I’ve been reading for a weeks now and I’m officially hooked! Can’t wait to try this recipe. Since I’m not a huge fan of ginger, I might substitute with a dash of hot sauce…since I just bought some the other day to make your Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Mac and Cheese! Can I just say, wow! I took a bite before it even went under the broiler and literally exclaimed “f*** that’s good!” Apologies for the profanity, but true story. Thanks for everything you share!
Iowa Girl Eats 03.29.2012
Sounds like both my husband and me! Total potty mouths… ;)
katie 03.28.2012
yummm! I can’t wait to give this a try. I’ve just recently started cooking with quinoa!
Carey 03.28.2012
I made this last night for dinner! YUMMERS!!! Oh, and even the hubs loved it. Fortunately, I am blessed with one that isn’t a picky eater and will eat anything I put on the table. But he isn’t afraid to tell me what he “actually” thinks of it. So when I make a dish and I get compliment after complement, instead of the silent treatment, I know I’ve done well! Or should I say IGE did well! haha! Since my hubs is a big meat eater, I grilled a chicken breast and sliced it on top. I didn’t marinate it anything, just used the extra lime and salt/pepper to season it. All I have to say is WOW WOW WOW! We even have left overs too!
Suzanne Bolling 03.27.2012
Made this tonight! Loved it. My husband and I made it together (miracle as we have 3 kids!) and I know we will make it again. Just found your site and looking forward to trying your other recipes. Thanks!
M. 03.27.2012
I made this tonight and loved it. I LOVE quinoa. I think next time I’ll cut the ginger in half tho, it was VERY ginger-y. I did add a pound of tail-off shrimp that I marinated in splash of soy sauce and a splash of rice wine vinegar just because I wanted that extra oomph. (and knew the two men in my house, hubs and son, would love this but would also want some kind of meat in it) THey loved it.
My 8-year-old demolished his entire bowl of it.
I even like to do quinoa for breakfast. I do re-heat leftover quinoa with a little peanut butter and honey and top with chopped apple. It’s delicious and filling.
Noelle (@singerinkitchen) 03.27.2012
This dish looks super fab! Your hubby is like mine. He will not touch tuna casserole. I love it! I am having lentils tonight, something else he does not like since he is out of town!
Amy 03.27.2012
Oh this looks so good! I’ll make a half batch I think (only me to feed and please anyway!) and that’s two night’s dinners in the bag. Thanks for the recipe :)
Alison 03.27.2012
Ooo…I’m going to pin this one to try out! The only thing is that I’m allergic to pineapple, so I’ll have to switch that out for something else. Not sure what though.
Sarah 03.27.2012
We just made this for dinner, oh my goodness yummy! We used veggie broth which worked just fine. We didn’t have green onions but will definitely seek them out next time. We used chopped tamari almonds on top. Yummmmmmmm!
Our quinoa didn’t crisp up much, any tips!
Two happy bellies in Maryland! Thanks!
Rachel 04.15.2012
This recipe is really good! For those that don’t have a strainer with small enough holes, you can just put a paper towel in the bottom of the strainer and turn your sink on really low to rinse it because it takes the water longer to drain through the paper towel.
And it takes awhile to get crispy but it’s soo good if you let it happen. Just turn it on medium-high and press the quinoa down in an even layer on the bottom of the pan and let it sit like that for a few minutes. Then stir it and press it down into the bottom of the pan again until you get the desired crispness.
I didn’t have pineapple so I used Trader Joe’s mango chutney instead which worked out really good and also added some red pepper flakes.
Thanks for this awesome recipe! I love quinoa and am always trying to find new ways to use it! I’m going to tell everyone about this yummy new way to make it!
Megan 03.27.2012
Just two nights ago I bout had a fit trying to cook quinoa for the first time. My main problem, I gather, is that I don’t have a fine mesh strainer. First, I tried just using the finest one I had. Not good enough, the quinoa were slipping through the holes. So I tried to improvise and threw a paper towel on the bottom. It did the trick but by the end of it there was quioa EVERYWHERE. And they are sticky little buggers! It was on everything.
All that is to say that my favorite way to cook/eat quinoa is to buy the trader joe’s frozen bag of it. Delicious.
My other favorite convenience buy is frozen crushed garlic. I know Trader Joe’s sells it (and cilantro and basil). It comes in little compartments holding the equivalent of a clove, so you just pop out the number you need for the recipe.
Jennifer 03.27.2012
Brilliant! I cannot wait to make this. I especially enjoy dinner time when my hubby is gone in the field for a few days (army) because dinner is all about me, and includes way more vegetables :D He is a simple meat and bread man and probably wouldn’t touch this meal….I would devour it >:)
Thanks for sharing. It looks amazing!!