By Wendy Zitzman
I cannot even begin to express how amazingly good this Cilantro Lime Quinoa recipe is. I got the idea for it while eating some Cilantro Lime Rice from Whole Foods a couple of weeks ago.
So yummy, but definitely not Weight Watchers friendly.
So I made my own version using quinoa instead of rice, and I added more texture and flavor. I also toasted the quinoa beforehand, which I had seen done in another quinoa recipe, and in my opinion, this made all the difference.
This low-calorie side dish recipe is a much tastier and healthier alternative to Mexican rice, and each serving is just 3 Points. It goes great with your favorite Weight Watchers Mexican Recipes and is loaded with much more nutrition than rice.
I am in love with this Cilantro Lime Quinoa, and I have no doubt you will be too.
Enjoy!
A tasty new spin on quinoa recipes, this is the perfect healthy side dish for your favorite Mexican meal as an alternative to rice. Get the health benefits of quinoa flavored with roasted chiles, cilantro, and lime.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep TimePrep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook TimeCook Time 30 minutes mins
Total TimeTotal Time 45 minutes mins
ServingsServings 6
CaloriesCalories 132 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 medium onion - diced
- 3 garlic cloves - minced
- 2 cups fat free vegetable broth
- 1 4 oz can green chiles
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 jalapeno - seeded and finely chopped
- ½ cup green onions - chopped
- Zest from 1 lime
- ⅔ cup cilantro - finely chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Set a large skillet over medium-high heat, and leave it dry. Add in quinoa and toast until quinoa starts to darken at the edges, about 3-5 minutes. Using a fine sieve, rinse the quinoa and set aside.
Spray a large saucepan with nonfat cooking spray and set over medium-high heat. Add in onions and garlic and sauté until tender and fragrant, about 3 minutes. If onions and garlic start to stick to the pan, add a bit of the broth to deglaze.
Stir in chiles and cook for another 2 minutes.
Add in quinoa and remaining broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook until the quinoa is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
Add in remaining ingredients and fluff with a fork. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.75 cupCalories: 132 kcal (7%)Carbohydrates: 22 g (7%)Protein: 4 g (8%)Fat: 0 gFiber: 3 g (13%)
Course: Dinner Recipes, Side Dish Recipes
Cuisine: Mexican Recipes
Diet: Low Calorie Recipes, Low Fat Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes
Keyword: Cilantro Lime Quinoa
Main Ingredient: Quinoa Recipes, Vegetable Recipes
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
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AuthorWendy Zitzman
As your average, every day, All American woman, I look forward to sharing with you my thoughts and ideas on many different topics that interest me such as dieting, health & fitness. Trust me when I tell you that this is one site you NEED to bookmark! I have the most amazing recipes with Weight Watchers Points that you won’t believe are low calorie! As an avid Weight Watchers follower, I have learned so many helpful tips and tools over the years that I am eager to share.
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6 Comments
Darlene9 years ago
I just made this last night for a work potluck. I was suppose to bring Spanish rice, which I did. I knew I wanted to stay healthy, so I found this recipe and made a batch. I brought just enough for me because I didn’t think my co-workers would take kindly to having their rice replaced with “healthy food (ick)”.
I have decided that I never need to make rice again. This was WONDERFUL! The taste and texture were perfect. The only thing I did was add some powdered tomato bouillion, cumin, and chili powder to the onions and garlic and I used more canned chilis instead of the jalapeno. Several of my co-workers tried it and LOVED it…and these people do not like “health-foods”.
Steph9 years ago
Making a batch of this tonight to have for lunch this week! Also going to add some sliced Mexican chipotle baked chicken!
Laurie11 years ago
How come I can never pin your recipes?
laaloosh11 years ago
Hmmm….I’m not sure. I tested both the Pin It button installed in my tool bar and my Pin It button at the bottom of a post, and both ways worked fine for me. I’ll look further into it.
Josée Levesque11 years ago
I just did this recipe tonight and it was a hit! Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
Elizabeth @ Food Ramblings11 years ago
delish! i make something like this all the time :)
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