Healthy quinoa fried rice packed with peas, snow peas, and bean sprouts and seasoned with a tasty blend of rice vinegar and soy sauce.
It happened.
I OD-ed on carrots and broccoli.
We were hot and heavy for so long, but right now I can’t stand to look at either one of them.
It’s not you… it’s me. Really!
While I take a mini hiatus to collect myself and date other veggies, I decide to re-mix my beloved quinoa fried rice recipe with a lean, not-so-mean, GREEN twist!
Healthy Quinoa Fried Rice Remix
Healthy Quinoa Fried Rice Remix
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry quinoa
- 1.5 cups water or veggie broth
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup bean sprouts
- 1 cup snow peas
- 1/4 white onion, diced
- 1/2 cup sweet peas (I used frozen + steamed)
- garlic powder, parsley, and red pepper flakes, to taste
- 2 large eggs (optional but delicious)
- oil or butter for sauteeing
- 1-2 tsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1-2 tsp white vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- If you’re fairly new to quinoa, here’s a step by step fluffy keen-wahhh tutorial for perfect quinoa every time.
- Rinse a cup of quinoa in a mesh sieve/strainer, drain, and allow to dry on a few sheets of paper towels. Drying time will vary, I usually rinse, strain, and just walk away.
- Once dry, toss quinoa into a pot and allow it to toast on medium heat for just a minute or so, while stirring. You don’t quite want to brown it, just a light toasting.
- Next add 1.5 cups of water [or broth!] to your quinoa and bring to a boil.
- Once the bubbles start flying, reduce to low, cover, and simmer for approximately 12 minutes.
- Feel free to add a pinch of garlic powder and a splash of soy sauce while the quinoa simmers to lock in some extra flavor.
- After 12 minuets, remove lid, fluff with a fork, and set aside. If it’s still a little liquid-y let it simmer for another minute or so until it’s nice and fluffy.
- While you’re waiting for the quinoa to simmer to fluffy perfection, prep your veggies! This will vary a little bit depending on whether or not you grab fresh or frozen veggies. I had fresh onion, sprouts, and snow peas but frozen peas. The peas went in the microwave for a few minutes while I sauteed the remainder of the vegetables on medium-high in a little grape seed oil [butter works too!].
- Add the minced garlic towards the end, once the veggies are almost fully cooked, to prevent burning.
- If you’re adding fluffy scrambled eggs to the mix, scoot the veggies to the side, crack eggs directly onto your skillet and scramble.
- Toss in the quinoa, soy sauce, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. If you’re a fan of the acidity of vinegar, you can add equal parts white vinegar and soy sauce. Unsure? Use 2 parts soy sauce and 1 part vinegar and work your magic from there! Taste test, adjust seasoning + sauce as needed and refrain from gobbling straight from the skillet! Er… I may have burned myself doing this 😉
- Serve with a little extra soy sauce and white vinegar if you’d like and, as always, enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
special diets and swaps
Brontosaurus Chefs: Skip the egg for a deliciously vegan dish. You can also add fried tofu!
I love quinoa fried rice paired with Sweet and Spicy Sriracha Tofu and, if you’re simply vegetarian, you can try my Honey Garlic Tofu too.
T-Rex Chefs: Enjoy as is or add some protein to the mix by adding chicken or steak.
Gluten-Free? Grab some bragg liquid aminos, coconut aminos, or use gluten-free soy sauce (like low-sodium tamari soy sauce) to seal the deal.
Feeling saucy? Drizzle this dish with a little extra soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, or sriracha. Anything goes!
So. Freaking. Good.
The best part? It works great with anything you have on hand!
Fresh veggies, frozen veggies, and even leftovers from last night’s dinner.
This healthy quinoa fried rice does it all!
Have you over done it on on any foods lately and declared a temporary break-up? Please tell me its not just me! What did you replace it with?
If you get a chance to try this healthy quinoa fried rice remix recipe, let me know!
Leave some love in the comment form below or tag your photos with @peasandcrayons on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creation. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
more tasty quinoa recipes
- NEW! Healthy Quinoa Salad
- READER FAVORITE: Greek Quinoa Bowls
- Quinoa Taco Bowls via Lemon Tree Dwelling
- 11 Easy Quinoa Recipes
We love stir-fry but I’m trying to get away from white rice. I will have to try substituting quinoa instead!
Beautiful photos..wow really stunning! I love the way you made this, and presentation is fantastic! I’ll be making this soon!!!
Just had to share, for my pea hating husband I sub frozen shelled edemame. It is delicious! Going to put the quiona variation on the menu for this week.
this sounds delish…thanks for sharing!
This sounds awesome! Going to make it tomorrow:)
Thanks Kathy! This is by far my favorite way to eat quinoa — before this recipe I didn’t eat it super often either. Now it’s my go-to =)
Ooh! This sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe.
MMM this certainly is GREEN! Love it
I’m about to OD on quinoa. I eat it all.the.time.
Wow! This look INCREDIBLE. I always love learning new ways to get my quinoa on! Thank you very much!
I have gone overboard with a food before, but right now I can’t think of anything. I must be in good standing with my eats. 🙂
This looks delicious…I need to try it!!
I love fried rice, and I love quinoa, so this is a perfect recipe suggestion. Thanks!
Quinoa fried rice sounds amazing!
YUM. I was just thinking about how I wanted to make fried rice with leftovers, but this sounds SO much more appealing!! And I’d be totally add those extra handfuls of beans 😉
Add tofu and I am in heaven!
*happy dance!* You’ll fall in love with quinoa all over again =) Happy monday gorgeous!
Sahweeet! Keep me posted Jamie! =)
This would be delicious with your fried tofu suggestion – it looks fantastic!! I think you’re going to get me back into making quinoa more regularly again. 🙂
No snow peas but I have bean sprouts. Love both recipes! Am definitely going to try it this week, will let you know how it goes 🙂
Lol I don’t know what Rice A Roni is!!! Explain explain! =) The toasting gives a little extra nuttiness to the quinoa as well as nixes all extra moisture so it can cook to fluffy perfection. I have made it both ways and I just adore the toasting so! My friend used to tell me to cook it like rice but I never loved it like that.. it was always a little runny and had an off texture about it. Ooh and always rinse too! nixes bitterness!
Ohmygosh totally meant to be! This is a first great intro into quinoa — It’s the dish that got my health-food-hating husband to love quinoa =) Here is another variation if you don’t have the snow peas and bean sprouts on hand: http://peasandcrayons.com/2012/01/keen-wahhhh-adventures-in-cooking.html xoxo
It’s fate! I just got my first bag of quinoa today from Waitrose as part of my ‘cook something for the first time’ challenge to myself this week 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Anna!! Super filling too! =)
Ooh using quinoa instead of rice = genius! With the egg too that must have a great protein count! and I LOVE peas 🙂
This looks so refreshing and yummy! I love quinoa!
I love how Springy this dish is! Yumm!
Not to worry, break up will not be forever. This recipe is a keeper.
That looks so freaking good!!! I love all your lighter, springy delicious salads you’ve been sharing lately. They look amazing!!
Peas are a perfect substitute! Lovely little dish you have here.
I keep meaning to ask/tell you – I have been reading that you toast/brown the quinoa before adding the water….I have never done this! Does it help it taste better? I always forget to try your way of cooking it… It’s like how you do it with Rice A Roni eh? Anyways….just curious.
P.S. How are you these days??? we haven’t chatted in forever girlie! I’m back to normal now that Carnival is over and all is right with the world again. LOL
xoxo from Trinidad
http://www.thehinzadventures.com/2012/03/upmarket-must-do.html
I am a HUGE fan of all of these ingredients. I am going to have to make this. 🙂
YUM! Isn’t quinoa the best? This sounds phenomenal. I always seem to forget about peas- I need to start incorporating them into my meals more often!
I recently OD-ed on grape tomatoes. So random but I was eating them like candy (all day, every day) for a really long time and now I can’t even stand the sight of them! I’m sure they’ll reappear soon though. (:
one can never go wrong with quinoa…it seems to go with EVERYTHING! mmm.
Umm yum! This looks so great! Pinning this right now!
Looks amazing! Can’t wait to try this one out
WOAH this sounds amazing. Like seriously. Why have I not thought of subbing in quinoa for rice? And even if i did… I wouldn’t have known how to make a fried rice kind of thing out of it 😉 haha
This is a great idea; I am pinning this for later.
Looks good! I OD-ed on peanuts last month…just can’t eat anymore! Thankfully I’ve still got cashews & the rare spoon of peanut butter!
yum! i love the remix! you always have such great ideas!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I am in lurve with your original recipe…Now you’ve gone and outawesomed yourself;) Definitely trying this one soon! LOVE IT:)
This looks super yummy and for some random reason the Mr had me buy bean sprouts today at the grocery so now I know I’m gonna use ’em! 🙂
awww thanks sweetie =) Hopefully they make the cut! <3 How was your weekend?
Looove these pictures 🙂 (oh, and the recipe doesn’t look half bad either ;))
Thanks Gabi!!
ahaha I don’t know! They aren’t my favorite! I like them cooked better than raw even – which everyone finds so weird! Tofu scramble sounds soooo good right about now chica!
How can you get tired of carrots?! 😉
This looks sooooo good. I want to go it with a tofu scramble!
Oof I’ve been there too! I start stuffing the salad into things when that happens which makes it a little more fun — veggie salad toasted subs and salad wraps with dip instead of dressing. That usually helps! =) Hope you’r’e having a great weekend Ami!
What a great use for quinoa! Love this idea! It’s a great way to use up random veggies in your fridge too!
I think I sometimes OD just on salad in general– I know there’s a million ways to mix it up but I tend to get stuck in a rut and put in the same things each time! Since I am the only one eating them, I have to also make sure I use up all the veggies I have before they go bad, which is not great for variety!
Hey girl Hayyy! Thank you!!!! Skip the eggs entirely! And go for it with the rice cooker! My friend makes it that way — I forget if she uses a teeny less liquid than normal or not. I would try it out both ways and see which one is fluffier — 1cup quinoa to 2 cups liquid in the rice cooker or 1 cup quinoa to 1.5 cups liquid in the cooker! Let me know! =) I wish I owned one! xoxo
Holy crap this looks tasty. Minus the eggs cause im weird and dont like eggs in my food ( though i do eat plain scrambled eggs with milk and butter) … Question! *raises hand* have you ever made quinoa in a rice cooker before? I have a rice cooker and I am just curious if it would work.
http://www.homemadefit.com
Love it!
eeee! Thank you!
Easy and healthy, what more could you want.. Buzzed
I OD on that during moves so I hear ya!!! Hooray for fresh healthy foods! You’re going to feel like a million bucks! =)
I think I have Od’d on fried fast book as it has not been appealing to me the past week. Which is great! Replacing them with fresh healthy foods!
oooh and sunflower butter! have you tried that yet? so toasty!