• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hummusapien logo
  • RECIPES
    • RECIPE INDEX
    • DIET >
      • Vegan
      • Gluten Free
      • Vegetarian
      • Dairy Free
      • Nut Free
      • Grain Free
    • METHOD >
      • 30 Minute
      • One Pot
      • No Bake
      • Baking
      • Instant Pot
    • BREAKFAST
    • SNACKS
    • MAINS
    • SOUPS
    • SALADS
    • DESSERT
    • SIDE DISHES
    • DRINKS
    • BABY AND TODDLER
    • SEASON >
      • Winter
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
    • HOLIDAY >
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
      • Mother's Day Brunch
      • Fourth of July
    • ROUND UPS
  • DINNER
  • DESSERT
  • LIFESTYLE
    • MOTHERHOOD
    • SHOP
    • HOME DECOR
    • MUST READS
    • TRAVEL
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • HOME
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • DIET TYPE
  • DINNER
  • DESSERT
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Hummusapien » Recipes » Lunch and Dinner » Quinoa "Fried" Rice

    ★★★★★ from 1 reviews

    Quinoa "Fried" Rice

    Published Mar 30, 2015 · Modified Feb 15, 2022 · by Alexis Joseph · 35 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This vegan and gluten-free Quinoa Fried Rice tastes like takeout but is made with whole grains, veggies, and an easy sauce. Serve it with edamame or grilled salmon if desired!

    This vegan and gluten-free Quinoa Fried Rice tastes like takeout but is made with whole grains, veggies, and an easy sauce. Serve it with edamame or grilled salmon if desired!

    This quinoa fried rice has no rice. And no fried.

    It's kind of like flourless cookies. And grain-free oatmeal. And cauliflower rice. It defies the very definition of the food itself; yet we're all a little into it?

    Lately I crave things that can be enjoyed both hot and cold. Things that are delicious until proven guilty. Things like this riceless friedless quinoa fried rice. If you've made my Easy Vegetable Teriyaki Stir Fry before, you know I love a good one meal wonder.

    Quinoa Fried Rice

    Now let's talk grains. Unless you have the frozen pre-cooked kind, rice takes a helluva long time to cook. Like 45 minutes too many. Quinoa, while difficult to pronounce, is not difficult to cook.

    It takes a mere fifteen minutes to serve up the fluffy, protein-packed goodness that is this pseudograin. Yep, quinoa is actually a seed!! We're all just pretending to be things we're not, here.

    Quinoa Fried Rice

    To keep it easy, I seasoned up this whole grain n' veggie mixture with a simple mixture of sriracha and reduced-sodium soy sauce. Feel free to add some sesame oil if you want to raise the flavor roof. For all the gluten-free folks reading, feel free to use tamari instead!

    P.S. Anytime I list minced ginger in a recipe, I'm secretly using this bottled minced ginger from The Ginger People. You can get it online or at Whole Foods. It's a godsend. Because who wants to actually mince fresh ginger?

     

    Quinoa Fried Rice

    There are so many places that this dish could go. Add edamame for more plant-powered protein. Add scrambled eggs for an authentic twist. Add more greens to make it more of a salad.

    Try this Thai Quinoa Fried Rice for a super yummy peanut butter version. This Instant Pot Pad Thai Stir is another winner!

    Oh the places quinoa will go!!

    Print
    clockclock iconcutlerycutlery iconflagflag iconfolderfolder iconinstagraminstagram iconpinterestpinterest iconfacebookfacebook iconprintprint iconsquaressquares iconheartheart iconheart solidheart solid icon

    Quinoa Fried Rice Recipe

    ★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
    • Author: Alexis Joseph | Hummusapien
    • Prep Time: 15 mins
    • Cook Time: 40 mins
    • Total Time: 55 mins
    • Yield: 4-6 1x
    • Category: Side Dish
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    This vegan and gluten-free Quinoa Fried Rice tastes like takeout but is made with whole grains, veggies, and an easy sauce. Serve it with edamame or grilled salmon if desired!


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 2 cups quinoa + 3 cups water
    • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 large onions, diced
    • 2 ½ cups thinly sliced carrots
    • 2 red bell peppers, diced
    • 1 cup edamame (optional)
    • 6 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 tbsp minced ginger (optional)
    • 1 bunch kale, de-stemmed and finely chopped
    • ¾ cup roasted salted cashews (optional)
    • ⅓ cup reduced sodium soy sauce (sub tamari for gluten-free)
    • 3 tbsp sriracha

    Instructions

    1. Place quinoa and water in a medium pot. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 15-20 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed.
    2. Meanwhile, chop all the vegetables. When the quinoa is cooked, dump into a large bowl. Wipe down pot. Add oil to pot and heat over medium heat. Add onions and carrots and sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring often.
    3. Add peppers, edamame, garlic, and ginger and sauté for another 5 minutes. Add kale and sauté just until wilted (a few minutes). Add cashews.
    4. Dump cooked vegetables into bowl with cooked quinoa. Add soy sauce and sriracha and stir well to combine. Serve warm.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @hummusapien on Instagram. I love sharing what you make!

    About Alexis Joseph

    Oh HEY there! I'm Alexis Joseph, food writer, blogger, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), new mama, and co-founder of local restaurant group, Alchemy. I use my passion for cooking and wellness as fuel to help others ignite a more freeing and happy relationship with food. Learn more about Alexis!

    5 Secrets to Delish, Healthy Lunches

    Reader Interactions

      Leave a comment & rating! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Donna says

      August 01, 2017 at 10:08 am

      I cook brown rice in our pressure cooker, so I always have rice in the fridge and freezer, ready for 'fried rice', but I also like the idea of using quinoa for a nice change. Thank you.

      Reply
    2. Becca says

      February 21, 2017 at 2:34 pm

      Snagged this from Alchemy today and googled the recipe after my first bite. In love and will be making a huge batch for lunches. Thank you!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Camille says

      November 11, 2015 at 2:22 pm

      Just wanted to let you know that I'm obsessed with your site. I feel like I'm going to be trying a new recipe (or 2 or 4) a day until I've tried them all...curry chickpea salad...CHECK! Quinoa Fried Rice and Loaded Veggie Avocado Tuna Salad, here we come!

      Reply
    4. Maureen says

      April 02, 2015 at 2:09 am

      I like this. A healthy dish indeed! What makes it even better is it can be serve either hot or cold. A very wonderful "fried" rice dish.

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 02, 2015 at 10:38 am

        Thanks! I love it hot with scrambled eggs 🙂

        Reply
    5. Erin says

      April 01, 2015 at 7:35 pm

      I made this for dinner tonight but I put it over a bed of spinach and omg it was amazing!!! Thanks for the Recipe!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 01, 2015 at 10:47 pm

        Awesome! I love it over spinach 🙂

        Reply
    6. Coty and Mariah@quirksandtwists says

      March 31, 2015 at 5:37 pm

      I'm way excited about this recipe! Fried rice is my guilty pleasure, so I'm pumped to have a healthier version!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 31, 2015 at 10:29 pm

        Awesome! I hope you love it!

        Reply
    7. Arman @ thebigmansworld says

      March 31, 2015 at 4:56 am

      Um.......yes. Can you please pre chill this for me pre Columbus?

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 31, 2015 at 11:18 am

        DUHHHH. We can have a picnic in the park.

        Reply
    8. Beth says

      March 30, 2015 at 10:07 pm

      Holy crap. Making this tomorrow!!! Such simple ingredients and it looks so good...

      Btw, the intro to this post is amazinggggg. You are such a clever writer.

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 31, 2015 at 11:18 am

        Awww thanks, Beth! Enjoy 🙂

        Reply
    9. Kelly @ Eat the Gains says

      March 30, 2015 at 5:44 pm

      This sounds delicious! Getting a rice cooker was a game changer for making rice. It takes like 15 minutes now!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 31, 2015 at 11:18 am

        That's amazing. I really need to invest in one!

        Reply
    10. Shannon says

      March 30, 2015 at 12:42 pm

      I have never cooked quinoa before, mainly because it looks and sounds intimidating. That needs to be fixed ASAP. This looks yummy!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 30, 2015 at 5:38 pm

        It's SO easy! Go for it!

        Reply
    11. Amanda @ .running with spoons. says

      March 30, 2015 at 12:13 pm

      LOVE! I've been stuck on rice lately, but I really need to start doing the quinoa thing again because it's so, SO good. And cold leftovers are seriously the love of my life. I actually prefer eating most things cold than I do hot!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 30, 2015 at 5:39 pm

        We're totally in the same boat! Like I think I'm grown too lazy to throw things in the microwave. Unacceptable!

        Reply
    12. Julia says

      March 30, 2015 at 12:00 pm

      Faux fried rice is duh beez kneez, suga! I love this quinoa idea! And, stop: The Ginger People makes bottled minced ginger?!! I need this 10 years ago! Happy Mondeeee!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 30, 2015 at 5:39 pm

        Faux fried rice...I love it. The bottled ginger is going to ROCK YOUR WORLD!!!

        Reply
    13. Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says

      March 30, 2015 at 11:45 am

      Pinned, shared, and currently salivating over right now! 😉 YES for fried rice day!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 30, 2015 at 5:40 pm

        Get excited!!!

        Reply
    14. Marisa @ Uproot from Oregon says

      March 30, 2015 at 11:11 am

      I purposefully run the rice cooker for leftover brown rice for healthy 'fried' rice. Love the idea of quinoa! I would be the one to add the scrambled egg because I love sticky clumpy rice. Mmmm!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 30, 2015 at 5:40 pm

        Mmmmm adding a fried egg would be an egg-cellent decision 😉

        Reply
    15. Beverley Cheng says

      March 30, 2015 at 10:50 am

      Yum! this looks a whole lot healthier than the shrimp fried rice I had at my favorite Chinese restaurant yesterday. Wahhh. Definitely gotta try your version soon!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 30, 2015 at 10:56 am

        Hahah I hope it's healthier AND yummier!

        Reply
    16. She Rocks Fitness says

      March 30, 2015 at 9:57 am

      Love me some quinoa...I always make a batch in my rice cooker for the week ahead. It is so easy to make and so versatile...I need to come up with some quinoa breakfast recipes to switch it up a bit. Happy Monday friend! XOXO

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 30, 2015 at 10:32 am

        SOOO smart to make it in the rice cooker. How do I not have one of those?!

        Reply
    17. Dietitian Jess says

      March 30, 2015 at 7:35 am

      I basically never make rice because it takes forever, quinoa to the rescue! I'm digging this with the addition of an egg- yum!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 30, 2015 at 9:21 am

        Right?! You should totally add an egg and never look back!!

        Reply
    18. Maryea {happy healthy mama} says

      March 30, 2015 at 6:47 am

      I love this! It's so colorful with all the veggies in there! Gorgeous photos, too. 🙂

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 30, 2015 at 9:21 am

        Thanks love! Veggies make everything so much prettier, don't they?

        Reply
    19. Erin @ The Almond Eater says

      March 30, 2015 at 6:29 am

      Ahh i love this and I love that you mentioned eating it hot or cold! I forget that sometimes.

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        March 30, 2015 at 9:21 am

        Hot or cold = amazing.

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Well HELLO there, pal! I'm Alexis. Welcome to Hummusapien, a fantastical food blog brimming with nourishing (always delish!) recipes from a Registered Dietitian plus life tidbits to inspire you to live your most joyful, balanced life. Grab a super hot cup o' joe and let's get cookin'.

    Tell me more... →

    Most Loved Recipes

    • Banana Zucchini Baked Oatmeal Cups
    • Easy Vegetable Teriyaki Stir Fry
    • Homemade Vegan Lasagna with Tofu Ricotta
    • Incredible Vegan Banana Bread
    • The Best Vegan Broccoli Salad Ever
    • Healthy Cream Cheese Frosting

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    • BLOG
    • ABOUT
    • CONTACT

    Join the recipe club!




    • FAQ
    • POLICIES
    • RECIPES

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © Hummusapien LLC 2011-2023 Hummusapien is a registered trademark of Hummusapien LLC.