This quinoa fried rice recipe is a healthier take on classic pork fried rice since it is made with the well-known gluten-free grain like quinoa.
Make sure to pair it with some crispy fried spring rolls or shrimp tempura on the side.
Quinoa fried rice
This quinoa fried rice is loaded with sauteed vegetables, cubes of pan-seared ham, and fluffy flavorful quinoa. Its a simple and delicious meal that has so many nutrients! If you enjoy incorporating quinoa into your meals, you will definitely enjoy my quinoa chicken nuggets!
What ingredients go into quinoa fried rice
- Meat– I like to use pork, but you can use chicken, shrimp, beef, or tofu.
- Veggies– All you will need here is garlic, onion, carrots, celery, and broccoli. You can honestly add in whichever vegetables you like.
- Quinoa– There are different types of quinoa out there but they are all pretty much the same. I like to buy organic white quinoa for this recipe.
- Sauce– Keep it simple with a little low sodium soy sauce, olive oil, and sugar for extra flavor.
Is quinoa an alternative to rice?
Yes! quinoa is one of the BEST substitutes for rice since its similar in texture, cooks the same, and has a mild flavor. Due to their similarities, they can be substituted for many recipes.
How to make quinoa fried rice
- Cook the quinoa– Rinse the quinoa very well using a mesh sieve before placing it into the saucepan. generally for every 1 cup of quinoa you will need 1 1/3 cup water.
- Sautee the vegetables– Now that your veggies are diced up you can cook them in a skillet with hot olive oil as instructed in the printable recipe card below.
- Add broccoli and sauce– The broccoli is added at the end since it cooks quickly. Now add in the sugar and soy sauce as the “sauce”.
- Stir in quinoa– Lastly, you just need to add the cooked quinoa in and give it a good mix.
How long does it keep?
You can enjoy this delicious dish for up to 5-6 days as long as it is stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
Can I freeze it?
Yes, you can freeze it. Make sure the “fried rice” is fully cooled down, then add it to a freezer bag and lay it flat. Try to spread it as flat as possible for even freezing. Thaw at room temperature.
Best way to reheat quinoa fried rice
To reheat it, add a little olive oil to a skillet over medium-high heat and sautee the quinoa fried rice until warmed through. Of course, you can always microwave it, but it wnt taste as yummy.
Full Recipe Instructions
Quinoa Fried Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked quinoa
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 2 cups ham diced
- 1 cup carrot
- 1 cup onion
- 1/2 cup celery
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 8 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
Instructions
Chop vegetables and cook quinoa
- Dice the carrot, celery, onion, and ham.
- Cook quinoa according to package and set aside.
Sautee diced veggies
- Fill a pan with olive oil and bring the heat to medium high. Cook the ham for about 3 minutes.
- Add the onion and minced garlic and cook until the onion becomes translucent.
- Then stir in the diced carrot and celery and cook for another 4 minutes.
Add broccoli, sauce, and cooked quinoa
- Add in the broccoli, sugar, and soy sauce.
- Lastly, stir in the cooked quinoa. Cook for about 4 more minutes and remove from heat.
Notes
What to serve with quinoa fried rice
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted on July 7, 2015, we’ve tweaked it a bit since then.
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Irene says
Simply delicious! My husband loved it. He said “those seeds are so good”.. (great way to incorporate quinoa into the diet)
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Irene, I’m glad you enjoyed them and very happy that your husband approved! Thank you for your kind feedback!
Katy | Her Cup of Joy says
What a great twist on the classic fried rice recipe, it’s a great way to use up leftover quinoa, I admit I just threw some old quinoa out of my fridge a few days ago. It had a sandy texture to it, no matter how many times I made it using different techniques. I think just that bag must’ve been a bad batch, I will buy another brand of quinoa and give this recipe a try.
simplyhomecooked says
Katy, You’re not the only one with the sandy qunioa problem. I’ve had the same thing happen to me too. Have you tried soaking it beforehand? Seems like rinsing it doesn’t always do the trick.
Katy | Her Cup of Joy says
I tried rinsing beforehand and it didn’t take away the sandiness, it’s not in every bite, but every other bite has that sand texture, as if someone sprinkled a few speckles of sand in the dish lol! I’ve never tried soaking it, I am not sure if that would be the problem, maybe this bag really did have some sand in it.
simplyhomecooked says
Hmm maybe it just might have been the bag after all.
Olga says
oh that sounds good!
will try it without ham and broccoli…….. and I imagine I could use whatever veggies I like……. will let you know how it turns if I don’t forget……. 🙂
simplyhomecooked says
Yes Olga you can use whatever veggies you want 🙂