Description
This Crispy Quinoa recipe is a healthy, crunchy, and flavorful dish made with cooked quinoa that’s crisped up in a skillet. Perfect as a side dish or salad topping for added texture! It’s easy to make and loaded with nutrients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup quinoa (rinsed)
- 2 cups water or vegetable broth (for cooking quinoa)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, for extra flavor)
- Fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Cook the quinoa: In a medium saucepan, combine the quinoa and water (or vegetable broth). Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 15 minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is tender. Remove from heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork to separate the grains.
- Prepare the quinoa for crisping: After the quinoa is cooked and fluffed, spread it out on a large baking sheet or shallow tray. Let it cool to room temperature for about 10 minutes to dry it out slightly. This will help achieve a crispier texture.
- Crisp the quinoa: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the quinoa and spread it out evenly in the pan. Let it cook for about 5-7 minutes without stirring, allowing it to crisp up on the bottom. Flip the quinoa over in sections and continue cooking for another 5-7 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Season the quinoa: Sprinkle the crispy quinoa with cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine. If desired, add a squeeze of lemon juice for a burst of freshness.
- Serve: Remove from heat and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve as a side dish or sprinkle over salads, grain bowls, or roasted vegetables.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add chili powder or cayenne pepper along with the cumin and paprika.
- To make it extra crispy, you can also bake the quinoa at 400°F (200°C) for 10-15 minutes after it’s cooled.
- Store any leftover crispy quinoa in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Global
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg