Cilantro Lime Quinoa – Quinoa is washed and drained and then allowed to get nutty on a pan and then cooked with some water until it gets fluff. Finally, it is garnished with salt, pepper, lime juice, and cilantro.
This easy recipe needs no further introduction. I am a fan of quinoa. Being a healthy food option quinoa has that nuttiness that makes any recipe a huge hit. Besides that, quinoa is supremely versatile in nature. You can make so many things with quinoa such as this easy peasy Mediterranean quinoa salad.
This recipe of quinoa will be something that you’d want to make again and again and again. When I make it in my home, it gets finished in a blink of an eye. Kids love the freshness. (surprising though!) I enjoy the nuttiness and the zesty lime flavor.
A VIDEO TUTORIAL FOR YOU 🙂
Let’s talk about the Ingredients:
Cilantro lime quinoa is made with just three simple pantry ingredients.
Quinoa – The star of the show quinoa makes up for 90% of the dish. It forms the base of the dish.
Cilantro – Cilantro is another important ingredient that adds to the freshness of this recipe. The simple, humble earthy flavors of quinoa blend with the fresh, fragrant cilantro to create a sharp bite of freshness in your dish.
Lime – Lime is something without which you cannot imagine making this quinoa recipe. Lime adds to the freshness and also pulls your taste palette towards a more tangy, zesty, a sour vibe that makes the recipe much tasty.
Other things that we need are something so common without which cooking is impossible. Therefore, I didn’t think that they would need another special introduction. They are water, Salt and Pepper.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Quinoa: An Overview
To make this recipe first wash and rinse your quinoa. Use a mesh strainer to strain the water. Then throw it in the pan to get it a little toasty and nutty. This step is totally optional. I generally keep this step in my recipe because it makes the quinoa taste a little nutty and I like that.
The next step is to add some water and allow it to boil. Then cover it up with a lid slightly ajar and cook it for exactly 12 minutes at low flame. This is the step when the quinoa will soak up the water and will get fluff. (I am such a nerd for this stuff)
Finally when your quinoa has drunk up all the water of the pan, season it with some salt, pepper, lime juice, and freshly chopped cilantro. Let the freshness and zestiness of lime and cilantro make our quinoa tasty. Give all of them a good toss on the pan and pour it in your serving dish.
Let’s talk taste:
The toasty, nutty quinoa blends like a charm with fresh cilantro and makes your taste buds feel a magical blend of taste which is sweet, sour, zesty, and absolutely amazing. The first bite brings on the freshness of cilantro, the zestiness of lime, and the sharpness of black pepper. As you chew on, the quinoas leave behind a sweet taste on your palate that begs you to reach out for the next bite. For me this dish feels as if there is a rain of freshness on my palate.
Cilantro Lime Quinoa
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Quinoa washed and drained
- 1½ Cup Water
- ½ Cup Cilantro freshly chopped
- ½ medium-sized Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper freshly grounded
Instructions
- Wash the Quinoa and drain the water. Pour it in a skillet or pan. Dry roast over medium heat until all the water is evaporated and the Quinoa grains are starting to get brown from the sides.
- Add 1 Cup of water at this point and cover cook for 5-6 minutes. After 5 minutes, remove the lid and add another 1/2 cup of water and cover cook for 6 minutes.
- Once the Quinoa has soaked in all the water, add the freshly chopped Cilantro and squeeze the juice of half a lemon in it. Season it with some salt and freshly ground black pepper.Mix well and serve hot with your favourite grilled meat or veggies.
Video
Notes
- Allow the Quinoa to cook completely before you add the chopped cilantro and lemon juice.
- You can add more veggies such as Cherry Tomatoes or Spinach in this if you wish to.
- You can also add shredded chicken into this and enjoy it.
Nutrition
Sophie says
That's something excellent. I can't wait to try it at my next BBQ party as a side dish.
Anjali says
Great! This actually goes great with BBQ Recipes