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    Home > Vegan Lunch/Dinner Recipes

    Coconut Quinoa

    Posted: Jul 1, 2011 ยท Updated: Mar 20, 2022

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    Nutty and fragrant, this Coconut Quinoa is a healthier take on one of South India's most delicious rice dishes, Coconut Rice.

    Photo of coconut quinoa with nuts and green chili peppers on a white plate.

    A quick post today on Coconut Quinoa, a delicious option for those hurried weeknights. Coconut Rice is one of Tamil Nadu's most delectable dishes, and one I was introduced to when I married a Tamilian. Tamilians love their rice dishes, and with good reason: Coconut Rice, Tomato Rice, Tamarind Rice, Brinjal (Eggplant Rice), Sesame-Seed Rice, Lemon Rice, Curd-Rice are all not just easy and quick meals to make, they are also incredibly healthy.

    Rice dishes are also a staple for picnics or travel or any event that requires food to be served and eaten with minimum fuss. Although you can always team up your prepared-rice dish with some sambar or kootu, you don't really need it: some crispy, fried poppadums or vadams (lentil, rice or sago crackers) and you are all set.

    I've blogged about my south Indian style Coconut Rice before. I also have a Thai red curry paste. But this time, I decided to try making my Coconut Rice with another grain that's fabulously healthy and one of the richest sources of protein around: quinoa.

    If you've read my quinoa recipes before, you know I ask you to always rinse the quinoa thoroughly in running water before you use it. That's a small but important step and can make all the difference between a good quinoa dish and a terrible one. The rinsing is essential to strip off the saponin, a natural coating on the quinoa, that can make the grain taste bitter.

    On with the recipe now. Enjoy the long Fourth of July weekend, all!

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    Photo of coconut quinoa on white plate.

    Coconut Quinoa

    A healthier take on the South Indian coconut rice, this coconut quinoa is a delicious and healthy meal for those days or nights when you simply can't spend too long in the kitchen.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 282kcal
    Author: Vaishali ยท Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

    Ingredients 

    • 1 ยฝ cups quinoa (thoroughly rinsed in a strainer, under running water)
    • 2 ยผ cup water
    • 1 cup coconut (shredded)
    • 10-12 cashews (chopped)
    • 20 peanuts
    • 1 tablespoon chana dal (bengal gram dal)
    • 1 tablespoon urad dal (black gram dal)
    • A generous pinch of asafetida (hing)
    • 2 teaspoon mustard seeds
    • 1 sprig curry leaves
    • 2 green chili peppers (slit through the middle)
    • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
    • Salt to taste
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    Instructions

    • Place the quinoa and water in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until most of the water is absorbed. Then slap on a lid, lower the heat to a simmer, and cook another 15 minutes.
    • In a larger saucepan, heat the oil. Add the mustard seeds and asafetida. When they sputter, add the curry leaves, the dals, the nuts, and the green chilies.
    • Stir-fry until the nuts and dals are lightly golden-brown-- don't burn or they'll get hard and unpleasant.
    • Add the coconut and quickly stir-fry until it takes on a golden hue. You don't want to leave the coconut unattended because it will burn fast.
    • Add the quinoa and salt to taste. Mix thoroughly. Garnish with some coriander leaves, if desired.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Potassium: 89mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment and recipe rating below!
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    About Vaishali


    I cook and eat simple, tasty and nutritious plant-based food in my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. Read more about me here.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sara

      May 22, 2020 at 6:58 pm

      This recipe looks divine! Is the dal cooked or soaked before stir frying?

      Reply
    2. Veganosaurus

      July 02, 2011 at 7:39 am

      Quinoa is one of my favorite grains. Especially the red kind. I try all kinds of experiments with it but have never tried making it coconut rice style before. Looks and sounds absolutely delicious!! Thanks for the recipe. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    3. Priya

      July 02, 2011 at 5:49 am

      Healthy and super inviting coconut quinoa, wat a wonderful way to enjoy quinoa..

      Reply
    4. Santosh Bangar

      July 01, 2011 at 7:48 pm

      it looks kike coconut rice i think it is healthy also
      1st time here nice space do visit my site

      Reply
    5. Krithi's Kitchen

      July 01, 2011 at 7:23 pm

      Love coconut rice.. would definitely love this way with quinoa...

      Event: Serve It - Grilled/Barbequed/Tandoored

      Reply
    6. Manasi

      July 01, 2011 at 5:57 pm

      What a wonderful twist to quinoa!
      I have tried it just once and liked it, but haven't purchased more for a while now... must bring some.
      i see many Quinoa dishes with Indian twist and it is all so tempting.

      Reply
    7. Vaishali

      July 01, 2011 at 5:36 pm

      Harini-Jaya, I'll definitely try to.

      DesiSoccerMom: Thanks for catching that-- it's corrected! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    8. Desisoccermom

      July 01, 2011 at 5:00 pm

      Love quinoa but haven't made it upma style yet. This sounds so good, I think I will make it for brunch tomorrow.
      Vaishali, not to nit-pick, but I think you meant to write "add quinoa" instead of "add rice" in the last step.

      Reply
    9. harini-jaya

      July 01, 2011 at 4:20 pm

      One of the finer dishes I make with quinoa!!
      If you get to bake anything this month, please send it across to my event..

      Reply

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    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

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    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

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