Easy Healthy Quinoa Fried Rice Recipe (Vegan)
A healthy quinoa fried rice that is vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free. Made with wholesome, plant-based ingredients, this is a nourishing dish you can enjoy for lunch or an easy weeknight meal.
Servings: 2 -4 servings
Ingredients
- 1-2 cups cooked quinoa
- 3/4 cups carrots very finely diced
- 3/4 cups broccoli florets chopped
- 1/2 cup corn frozen or fresh
- 2-3 tbsp tamari liquid aminos, coconut aminos or other gluten-free soy sauce alternative
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- pepper to taste
- optional
- sesame seeds for garnish
- spring onion for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pan or skillet on medium high heat, pan-fry garlic until fragrant (about 1-2 minutes).
- Add veggies, and continue to cook until veggies are bright in colour and slightly tender, about 3-5 more minutes.
- Next, add cooked quinoa, and break up any clumps with a spatula.
- Add tamari, and stir to cook until well incorporated. Taste, and add additional tamari and pepper as needed.
Notes
Secrets to Success
- If you're missing any of the veggies I used or prefer to season your quinoa fried rice differently, feel free to switch it up. I say this all the time, but when swapping out an ingredient or making substitutions to "healthify" a recipe, it's always a good idea to use the same seasonings you usually would.
- This is a great way to “clean out your produce drawer” and use the vegetables and ingredients you have on hand. Some other great stir-fry veggie options are snow peas, bell peppers, and green beans. Plus, you can always add some protein with vegan chicken pieces, tofu, an egg replacement (scramble) or another plant-based protein, and cashews or other nuts for crunch!
- I kept the ingredients basic because fried rice is seasoned a little differently depending on what country you're enjoying it in. For example, in Thailand, it's a little sweet and usually made with fish sauce. In Japan, it's a little sweeter, and within the different regions in China, the flavors vary wildly. Some regions pack the spice in heavy, while some don't even add soy sauce and rely on simply garlic for flavor. Coming from a mixed Asian background, I couldn't pick just one style of fried rice, so this is just a simple, classic fried rice, and you can add additional seasonings if you'd like!
- If you don’t have leftover quinoa, make a fresh batch. It’s made similar to the way white rice or brown rice is made: in a large pot, bring water to a boil, cover, and simmer for 15-20 min. Follow the instructions on the package when in doubt.