Quinoa Vegetable Pilaf (Printable Version)

Vibrant quinoa pilaf with roasted vegetables and herbs for a nutritious meal.

# 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 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Fresh Herbs & Finish

14 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, optional
16 - Juice of 1/2 lemon

# Directions:

01 - Preheat your oven to 425°F.
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 tastes even better the next day when all those roasted flavors have gotten cozy with each other in the fridge.
  • You can actually taste the difference between fresh herbs and dried ones, which feels like a small magic trick every single time.
  • Nobody will ask if it's vegan or gluten-free—they'll just ask for seconds and the recipe.
02 -
  • Rinsing quinoa genuinely changes the outcome—the first time I skipped it thinking I was saving time, the pilaf tasted bitter and slightly off, and I never made that mistake again.
  • Cutting all your vegetables roughly the same size is non-negotiable because they'll finish roasting at the same moment instead of some being mushy while others stay crunchy.
03 -
  • Don't stir the vegetables constantly while they roast—give them time to develop color and caramelization without moving them around every minute.
  • If your quinoa turns out slightly dry, stir in a tablespoon or two of broth after cooking to keep it from becoming gritty.
Go Back