A sweet and spicy vegetable quinoa bowl that tastes like it took a whole lot longer than fifteen minutes to make.
One of the main reasons why I started and continue to write for Clean Eating Veggie Girl is because I have a love for healthy vegetarian foods, a passion for cooking, and a strong desire to share my creations with others. Through this blog, it is my hope that I can show others just how easy, healthy, and delicious vegetarian food can be. And while the basis of this blog is for me to share my recipes with you, from time to time I am fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of your wonderfully creative and delicious ideas.
A few weeks back in one of my What I Ate Wednesday posts, my friend Molly left a comment describing her recent favorite dinner. She said that lately she has been making quinoa bowls with frozen stir-fry vegetables, sriracha sauce, sweet chili sauce, ginger, and garlic. She then tops everything off with a fried egg. Obviously the instant that I read this, I knew this quinoa bowl had to happen… and soon! What could be better than veggies, quinoa, a delicious sauce, and an egg? Probably not much, except maybe some peanut butter and chocolate. But since we are talking lunch/dinner, let’s go with the quinoa bowl!
Using Molly’s inspiration, I threw together (seriously, it is that easy) a sweet and spicy quinoa bowl packed full of so many of my favorite veggies.
Sure, I have made quinoa bowls in the past. But this bowl is different. It has a little something extra, bolder, and tastier. I also love the fact that it tastes complex without actually being complicated to make. The little bit of spiciness paired with the sweet chili sauce makes your taste buds extra happy, especially if you are a sweet/spicy lover like I am.
Molly’s Sweet Chili Vegetable Quinoa Bowl
Vegetarian w/ Vegan Option
Serves 2 to 3
Ingredients
2 cups cooked quinoa (1/2 cup dry + 1 cup water)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 TB fresh ginger, minced
1/4 medium yellow onion, chopped
16 oz bag frozen stir-fry vegetables
1/8 cup Bragg’s liquid aminos (low sodium soy sauce works here too)
1/4 to 1/3 cup sweet chili sauce
sriracha sauce, optional
2 to 3 large eggs, optional*
*Recipe is vegan without the eggs
Directions
1. If you do not already have the quinoa cooked, prepare according to package directions.
2. Line a large skillet with a thin layer of water. Heat over medium-high heat until very hot. Once hot, lower the heat to medium and add garlic, ginger, and onions to the pan. Cook for approximately 5 minutes, adding additional water as necessary.
3. Add frozen stir-fry vegetables to the skillet. Cover with a lid and cook for approximately 5 minutes.
4. Once the vegetables are cooked through, turn the heat to low and stir in cooked quinoa.
5. Add liquid aminos/soy sauce and sweet chili sauce to the skillet. Stir until well-combined. Cook an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until your vegetable and quinoa mixture is hot.
6. If you are adding an egg to the bowls, cook each one to your liking during the last 3 to 5 minutes of cooking time. I prefer fried, runny eggs, but stirring in scrambled eggs would also be delicious.
7. Scoop the vegetable and quinoa mixture into bowls and, if desired, drizzle with sriracha sauce and top with an egg.
This bowl is entirely vegan without the egg, but I think that both Molly and I would agree that the egg really gives it something… extra. Something savory. Something complex (without being difficult to make). Something protein-packed. And something ooey gooey (in a good way). Egg or not, this quinoa bowl is delicious. But if you are not a vegan, I say go for the egg!
Note: If you prepare your quinoa ahead of time, it will literally take 15 minutes to throw together. Who said dinner cannot be quick, healthy, and delicious?
Are you ready to get your sweet and spiciness on? Keep track of this recipe by Pinning it, and share it on Facebook and Twitter.
Clearly, my friends and readers are full of great recipe ideas! Tell me… what have you been eating lately? Maybe I’ll turn it into a post!
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Mmm… sweet and spicy + quinoa… can it get any better?!! I absolutely love quinoa bowls and am always looking for fresh takes on yummy quinoa creations. Thanks Hannah!
You are so welcome, Shannon! You’re right…. quinoa bowls are amazing!
Love the egg on top!
ME TOO! It was the perfect addition!
I love the addition of the egg. I think I want this for breakfast or dinner today!
This would definitely be an awesome breakfast.. or brinner! 😉
I love quinoa bowls (any grain bowl)! Such a quick meal to throw together and the perfect base for ANY flavor combos!
YES! All you need is a good grains, some veggies, and a delicious sauce and you are all set!
I LOVE veggie and quinoa bowls! YUM!
Aren’t they the best? Unfortunately, I tend to go months without eating them until I suddenly remember how good and easy they are. Silly me!
I hope you have a great weekend, Brittany! 🙂
I would totally have the egg on top – YUM! I also like the sound of the ginger in there, I am crazy for fresh ginger
It took me awhile to cook with fresh ginger, but now I am hooked! It’s amazing what it adds to a dish. I love the health benefits too!
We have been loving quinoa bowls lately. I literally just dump anything and everything into them. This looks delicious though – how I long for a runny egg! I’ll have to wait until baby is here though 🙁
I have yet to try sriracha (I know, I know), but that might need to change sooner rather than later
Boo on the runny eggs and DOUBLE boo on the sriracha! You are seriously missing out. Regular hot sauce has NOTHING on sriracha! Maybe I’ll buy you a bottle for Christmas 😉
YUM! This looks delicious 🙂 I bet my husband would loooove it with the egg on top! I’l have to keep this in mind for next wee’k meals!
It is the perfect dish for week night meals because you can literally throw it together in under 20 minutes. I like to pretend that the egg makes it “fancy.” 😉
Hi Hannah & Molly,
Fantastic recipe; I’m a huge quinoa fan! And the addition of the egg to top it off is really cool. Reminds me a bit of the Korean dish bibimbap . 😀
And now I am going to go Google bibimbap! You have me intrigued!
Loooove quinoa bowls!!
You and me both, girlie! 🙂
Love the egg on top!
Me too! It wouldn’t have been quite the same without it!
This with a scrambled egg mixed in instead of a fried one on top sounds perfect for me! Thanks Molly and Hannah!
You bet this would be awesome with scrambled eggs. It’d be like a “fried rice,” but with quinoa!
I have never had quinoa but this looks delicious!
Oh my gosh, quinoa is SO good (and healthy)! You should definitely give it a whirl!
Quinoa bowls are the best! Especially ones with veggies like this one 🙂
They really are! I am already excited to make it again soon!
This looks so good! It’s always nice when you receive a little inspiration from others. 🙂
It really is. My creative juices aren’t always flowing, so I love a little help from my friends/readers!
YUM! This looks so healthy and delicious!! Great nutritious and nourishing meal! 🙂 Love it!
Yes, Cailee! It is both nutrition AND delicious! Not to mention easy… which is a HUGE plus in my book.
Ahhh, this looks so good! <3 I really need to go rescue my quinoa from my friend's house next weekend! *-*
YES, you do!! You can’t be without your quinoa for too long! 😉
This is literally a go-to meal of mine of weeknights. I love throwing together frozen stir-fry veggies and some brown rice or quinoa. It is super easy, fast, delicious and nutritious.
I can see why, Mattie. It is SO easy and delicious! I need to turn to this type of recipe more often, especially on busy week nights!
Omg this looks so delicious! I just became a big fan of sirracha recently and it’s become my new ketchup I put it on everything! Can’t wait to try this out xo C
Isn’t sriracha SO good? It is definitely a staple in my house!
I love healthy power bowls like these. This quinoa bowl is a definite recipe I will be making for myself and my vegetarian family. Thanks for sharing it!!