Quinoa Vegetable Pilaf (Printable)

Fluffy quinoa mixed with roasted seasonal vegetables, aromatic herbs, and zesty lemon for a vibrant, nutritious dish.

# What you'll need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups vegetable broth or water

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 small zucchini, diced
05 - 1 small carrot, peeled and diced
06 - 1 small red onion, diced
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Aromatics & Seasonings

09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Fresh Herbs & Finish

14 - ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, optional
16 - Juice of ½ lemon

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C)
02 - On a large baking sheet, toss bell pepper, zucchini, carrot, red onion, and cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper
03 - Roast vegetables in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring once, until golden and tender
04 - Combine rinsed quinoa and vegetable broth in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes
05 - Fluff quinoa with a fork
06 - In a large skillet, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in cumin, thyme, and smoked paprika
07 - Add cooked quinoa and roasted vegetables to the skillet. Toss gently to combine and warm through
08 - Remove from heat. Add parsley, mint if using, and lemon juice. Toss well and adjust seasoning as needed
09 - Serve warm or at room temperature

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, which means weeknight dinners don't have to be a stress.
  • The roasted vegetables turn caramel-sweet, making even the picky eaters at your table actually ask for seconds.
  • You can eat it warm straight from the skillet or pack it cold for lunch tomorrow without any regret.
02 -
  • Rinsing quinoa matters more than the box suggests—it's the difference between fluffy and slightly bitter, and I learned this the hard way on my first attempt.
  • Don't crowd the baking sheet with vegetables; they need room to roast, not steam, so give them space to brown properly.
03 -
  • Cut all your vegetables roughly the same size so they finish roasting at the exact same moment—uneven pieces lead to some things being soft and others still raw.
  • Toast your spices directly in hot oil for 30 seconds before adding the quinoa; this wakes up their flavors in a way that makes people wonder what you did differently.
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