One of the many great benefits of quinoa is its versatility. Quinoa alone has a rich, earthy, and nutty taste with a fluffy texture. This makes it delicious to enjoy alone or as a side dish, but also allows it to be complementary to many other flavors and ingredients. If you are asking yourself what to eat with quinoa, there is a lot of room for creativity!
Quinoa as a Side Dish
Quinoa serves as an excellent side dish to your favorite animal or plant-based protein. The addition of quinoa to a protein and veggie dish creates a complete and nutritious meal. For example, try our Pesto Pasta Quinoa Cup with chicken kabobs. Chicken seasoned with Italian herbs and spices pair beautifully with the basil, parsley, and sun-ripened tomatoes in the quinoa cup. Or, if you prefer plant-based proteins, prepare tofu, tempeh, or another plant-based substitute to your liking. You can create both a filling and nutritious meal by adding quinoa that is sure to keep you satisfied and energized.
Quinoa as a Salad Ingredient
Quinoa can be added to virtually any salad to add a dimension of flavor and an extra serving of protein. Whether it is a leafy green salad or a more non-traditional salad, quinoa’s earthy and nutty flavor elevates the dish. Utilize seasonal ingredients to achieve the ultimate freshness and top with quinoa. See our How to Make a Quinoa Salad? blog post for 3 delicious quinoa salad recipes.
Quinoa in Bowls
Another great way to enjoy quinoa is combined with other ingredients to create a bowl. This is made especially easy with Keen One Quinoa Cups, as they each have their own unique and bold blend of flavors that make exciting bases for different variations of flavorful bowls. The possibilities are endless, as bowls can have any combination of proteins and vegetables as toppings. Give a Quinoa Harvest Bowl a try by simply preparing a Harissa Red Pepper Quinoa Cup as directed and topping with roasted brussel sprouts, cubed sweet potato, and toasted garbanzo beans.
Other Creative Quinoa Ideas
Quinoa as a side dish, as a topping for a salad or as the base of a bowl are all delicious and simple ways to incorporate quinoa into your diet, but there is still room to get creative! The versatility of quinoa creates limitless options to enjoy it. For example, try quinoa inside of fresh pieces of butter lettuce to make savory lettuce wraps, or prepare a Keen One Chipotle Quinoa Cup and serve with tortilla chips, bell pepper slices, guacamole, and refried bean dip for an inspired snack. Yum!
If you are aspiring to incorporate quinoa into your diet but are asking yourself what to eat with quinoa, give one of these ideas a try! As always, if you try any of the recipes or just want to say “hello”, tag us @keenonequinoa.