Instant Pot Vegetable Quinoa

Instant Pot Vegetable Quinoa is a simple and nutritious recipe that is perfect for lunch, dinner, and lunch boxes as well.

Yet another instant pot recipe! This time I am cooking my favorite grain, Quinoa. Based on the feedback I have received for other quinoa recipes, I have a strong feeling you will love this too!

Quinoa is not common in Asian or Indian cuisine, but the nutritional benefits are so much better compared to white rice or brown rice. So, quinoa recipes with delicious Indian spices are a welcome change.

Best Vegetable Quinoa

Preparing this vegetable quinoa with the instant pot is very straightforward. The trick lies in choosing the right spice combination that brings the best from quinoa.

The list of ingredients for this recipe is quite long, but I can tell you that they all play an important role in the taste and texture of this recipe.

The only ingredients you can probably change are coconut milk and the vegetables that you prefer to add to the recipe.

If you do not prefer the sweet flavor of coconut milk, you could use other non-dairy milk such as cashew or almond milk.

I updated the recipe based on readers questions and interests. 

This time I omitted few ingredients to make it simple and delicious. 

You can skip few ingredients like bay leaf, star anise, and black pepper. Still, you will get a delicious bowl of vegetable quinoa. 

The other highlight of this recipe is that I only used 2 teaspoons of cooking oil. The other source of fat is the quarter cup of coconut milk that I added.

What a healthy low-fat alternative to restaurant food! I am excited to hear your comments after you try this recipe.

If you are looking for more recipes with quinoa, look no further! I have shared a bunch of them in the past. Spicy Spinach quinoa, Pineapple fried quinoa, and Mexican quinoa to name a few...

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Here are the recipe details.

Instant Pot Vegetable Quinoa

Uma Srinivas

Preparing this vegetable quinoa with the instant pot is very straight forward. The trick lies in choosing the right spice combination that brings the best from quinoa.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 4 mins

resting time 10 mins

Total Time 24 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4 people

Calories 175 kcal

Equipment

• Instant Pot
• Vegetable Chopper
• Coffee Grinder

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 ½ cup white quinoa
• ▢ 2 tbsp Cooking oil
• ▢ 1 tsp cumin seeds
• ▢ 4 cloves
• ▢ 2 star anise - optional
• ▢ 1 bay leaf - optional
• ▢ 1 tsp garlic clove minced
• ▢ 2 tsp ginger paste or chopped ginger
• ▢ 1 small onion - chopped
• ▢ 1 tomato
• ▢ 1 cubed red potatoes
• ▢ 1 cup chopped green beans
• ▢ 1 chopped carrots
• ▢ ¼ tsp turmeric powder
• ▢ ½ tsp black pepper powder - optional
• ▢ ½ tsp red chili powder
• ▢ 1 tsp Garam Masala
• ▢ Pink salt to taste
• ▢ ¼ cup coconut milk
• ▢ 1 ½ cup water
• ▢ 2 tbsp chopped cilantro - (optional)

Instructions

 

• Add oil to inner pot. Press saute and when oil is hot, add cumin seeds, star anise and cloves.
• Add the following in the same order with a minute of cook time between each: Minced ginger, Garlic, onions, tomatoes, and all dry spices.
• Now, add all the vegetables, coconut milk and salt . Stir constantly for 30 seconds.
• Add rinsed quinoa and water and continue to stir.
• Close the lid of the instant pot. Turn the steam release handle to sealing position. Press pressure cooking and set the time for 4 minutes.
• When the time is up, open the lid using 10 minutes natural release.

Video

Notes

• The only ingredients you can probably change are coconut milk and the vegetables that you prefer to add to the recipe.
• If you do not prefer the sweet flavor of coconut milk, you could use other non-dairy milk such as cashew or almond milk.
• Youn can skip few spices if that is not available to you like bay leaf, star anise. 

 

Note: The nutrition values I show here are my best estimates. Please be sure to check your preferred nutrition calculator, if you are reliant on accurate calculations in your diet.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 113mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 356IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

Keyword Quinoa, spiced quinoa, Vegetable quinoa

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Instant Pot Vegetable Quinoa is ready! It is best served hot with a side of soy or coconut yogurt or potato chips.

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