This Lemon Turmeric Quinoa made with just five 5 ingredients. It's so simple to make and is the perfect way to spice up your next ethnic-inspired feast!
New year, new series here on the SQ blog. So get ready my friends, it's gonna be a good one.
As many of you seem to adore these 5-ingredient type recipes, I'm going to bring you WAY more this year. Fun, right?
This 5-ingredient craze started back in 2013, for us that is, with my 5-ingredient Quinoa Mac & Cheese, which I just need to add is still one of the most popular recipes on the site. (<– it's been pinned over 160K times! what the what!?)
Since then, there have been a few other 5-ingredient recipes (like the Broccoli Quinoa Mac & Cheese and Sweet Potato Quinoa Fritters) and they always seem to do super well. And guys, I totally get it. Quick and easy with a short ingredient list gets me too. Every single time!
So 2017 is going to be a year full of simple and delicious 5-ingredients recipes. I'm not entirely sure how frequently these posts will be up (I'm thinking at least once per month), but nonetheless, I hope you're pumped! It's going to be great!
We're kicking things off with this delicious lemon turmeric quinoa recipe which yes, uses just 5 ingredients.
I'd look at this recipe more as a base for something else, rather than just a standalone recipe, but I did have some bites on its own and it's frickin' tasty! All that citrus, combined with the warm turmeric and creamy coconut finish…so good!
Really all we need to do with this recipe is cook up some quinoa, let it cool slightly and then stir everything in and serve. Here are some meal pairings that would be perfect with the turmeric quinoa:
- Slow Cooker Moroccan Chickpea Stew
- Easy Chana Dal
- Spiralized Butternut Squash Bowls
- Vegan Quinoa Burgers (with a side of greens)
I served mine for a few friends with a simple massaman curry and they loved it.
What you'll also adore about a recipe like this Lemon Turmeric Quinoa is that it's reheatable, meaning it's awesome for meal prep. Make a big batch of this, along with some roasted veggies, chickpeas and a quick tahini dressing and you've got your lunches planned for the whole week. How great is that?!
Your turn…
What other types of recipes would you like to see me recreate with just 5 ingredients? Share some of your ideas in the comments below!
xo Alyssa
More 5 Ingredient Quinoa Recipes to Try:
- Coconut Curry Quinoa
- Mexican Quinoa
- Ginger Miso Quinoa
- Spanish Quinoa
- Kimchi Fried Quinoa
- Garlic Butter Quinoa
- Broccoli + Quinoa Mac and Cheese
- Quinoa Mac and Cheese
- Coconut Lime Quinoa
- Sweet Potato Quinoa Fritters
- Pesto Spaghetti Squash Boats
- Zucchini Fritters
5-ingredient Lemon Turmeric Quinoa
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked quinoa from 1 cup uncooked
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- Juice and zest of 1/2 a lemon about 1 tablespoon juice, 1 teaspoon zest
- 1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric powder
- 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
- optional add-ins: chopped green onions thai basil, ground black pepper, cashews, etc.
Instructions
- Cook quinoa until light and fluffy, about 10 - 15 minutes. (I use this method)
- Allow the quinoa to cool until it's warm to the touch, then stir in the remaining ingredients. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
- If using, stir in add-ins and serve with your favorite dish!*
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Makes a spicy side dish to fish (we had cod). I toasted the chili-lime cashews and the Everything cashews in the air fryer. Used plenty of Thai basil. Grated fresh turmeric.
I haven’t experimented with quinoa in way too long, now my mom has been reading about health benefits. After catching her eating it cooked plain, I’m really excited to find this blog! Thank you!!!
Why wouldn’t you add the lemon and turmeric to the quinoa as it cooks instead of after? Wouldn’t it absorb more of the flavors that way?
You could cook it that way if you’d like
I must’ve done something terribly wrong. This was so bitter I couldn’t eat it. Maybe too much Tumeric. Any suggestions?
Oh no! That is not an enjoyable flavor. Did you rinse your quinoa before cooking? It helps remove that bitter taste.
Thank you so good.
Made this tonight. Used basil evoo. Added black pepper, toasted cashews, and sauteed onions and peppers. It was very good. My husband (who doesn’t love quinoa) even ate it and said he would eat it again.
delicious, thanks for a great recipe !
I loved the taste but mine was very dry. I added a little olive oil but wondered if anyone else has this problem?
Love your recipes. Have saved and made quite a few. Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed! Not sure why it would have been dry ….maybe slightly overcooked?
Delicious! My grandson and I loved it!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that, Gail 🙂
I followed the directions as given adding in cashews, dried basil, and black pepper. Delish! Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed!
A simple yet impressive-looking side dish. Loved the flavor, too, and so did my meat-eating partner. I’ll be making this again.
Wonderful!!! Makes me so happy to hear that 🙂
Wait am I using 3 cups? Or one? If 3 cups then how much water? 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of quinoa?
1 cup uncooked 🙂 And yes 2 cups water for every 1 cup of UNcooked quinoa 🙂
Made this tonight and it was so delicious!! I used olive oil in place of coconut oil because I didn’t have any but it still came out great!! Thanks for sharing!!
Yes!! That sounds so great 🙂
Do you cover the quinoa while it is simmering the 12 to 15 minutes?
You do, yes!
I made this today but used lime instead of lemon (all I had). I also added chopped green onions and chopped walnuts to it. For me, I will add more lime and a tad less turmeric next time but otherwise, I like it and will make it again.
YUM!
Thanks for sharing Mountainhoppiechick! I think your modifications sound awesome. I will give this version a try! Who can turn down walnuts?
Hi Alyssa,
I love your Lemon Tumeric Quinoa. And I would also really love to feature it in our website Greenthickies.com. With your permission of course. Would it be all right if I used one of these images? I will not post the actual recipe and its contents, but just an image and title and the link back to your post.
Thanks a lot 🙂
Absolutely!! xo
Thanks Alyssa. 😀
Do you eat this hot or cold? Was thinking of bringing it for Easter dinner.
I like to serve it warm as a side dish! (sorry I’m a bit late on the reply!)
Great. I’ll use greek extra virgin olive oil. Greetings from Finland ! 🙂
I would love to eat 5-ingredient lemon turmeric quinoa but I’m allergic to coconut. Could I use something instead of coconut oil without losing good texture and flavor ? 🙂
I think you could leave it out or use olive oil 🙂
Made the Lemon Turmeric Quinoa today and it was simply delicious! This is a keeper for me. I did roast a red pepper and chopped it up adding it also. Really enjoyed this gave some to a vegan neighbor, she raved and wanted the recipe.
YUM!! The roasted red pepper sounds amazing! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂 You gotta try it with a curry too – soo good!
Ok…wait! What kind of curry and how much?
What do you mean? There’s no curry in this recipe 🙂
I read that you need to add some black pepper to get the full benefits from turmeric. Does your research show it’s necessary? I’ve recently started adding turmeric to my eggs and now they are bland without it. Golden milk surprised me that I liked it, but my recipe said to add black pepper which I didn’t really like. So that’s why I wondered how necessary it was.
Thanks.
I have heard that before, yes! I think it’s really about getting the maximum benefits – not that you won’t get any benefits without it. Does that make sense? If you can’t stand the pepper, that’s okay. You’ll still get amazing benefits from incorporating turmeric into your diet! xx
There are so many tumeric choices. What brand/kind do you use?
I personally like Simply Organic since all their spices are certified organic!