Cilantro Lime Quinoa Recipe | LaaLoosh (2024)

By Wendy Zitzman

Cilantro Lime Quinoa Recipe | LaaLoosh (1)

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!

Cilantro Lime Quinoa Recipe | LaaLoosh (2)

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

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep TimePrep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook TimeCook Time 30 minutes mins

Total TimeTotal Time 45 minutes mins

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
  • 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

    1. 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”.

    2. 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!

    3. 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.

    4. Josée Levesque11 years ago

      I just did this recipe tonight and it was a hit! Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

    5. Elizabeth @ Food Ramblings11 years ago

      delish! i make something like this all the time :)

    Food Recipes

    Cilantro Lime Quinoa Recipe | LaaLoosh (2024)

    FAQs

    How many calories in a cilantro lime quinoa bowl? ›

    Rubio's Cilantro Lime Quinoa Bowl (1 serving) contains 66g total carbs, 53g net carbs, 25g fat, 17g protein, and 550 calories.

    Should you cook sprouted quinoa? ›

    You can eat them raw once they've sprouted. Use quinoa sprouts as a gluten-free alternative to grains such as couscous and rice. Sprouted quinoa is perfect for making healthy salads, taco's, pilaf's, sushi and soups. You can stuff vegetables with it and much more.

    How to make quinoa palatable? ›

    Easy ways to flavor quinoa: Broth: first and foremost, change up the liquid that you're using to cook your quinoa. Rather than using water, try to change it up for broth (veggie, chicken, beef, mushroom, etc). You can also use coconut milk if you're wanting something a little more creamy/tropical.

    Is quinoa healthier than rice? ›

    Quinoa is rich in both fiber and protein, contains a much higher amount of other nutrients, and has a similar fluffy texture to the rice. A cup of quinoa contains twice more protein and about 5 g more fiber than white rice. Quinoa contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than white rice.

    Is cilantro high in calories? ›

    Cilantro contains vitamins A, C, and K, and the leaves also have folate, potassium, and manganese. However, it's rarely eaten in large enough amounts to be a significant source of these nutrients. 1 tablespoon of cilantro contains: Calories: 0.

    Are quinoa bowls high in calories? ›

    1 serving of quinoa bowl (Bowl of quinoa with stuff) contains 328 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 70% carbs, 12% fat, and 18% protein.

    How many calories are in 2 cups of cilantro? ›

    There are 7 calories in 2 cups of Cilantro (Coriander).

    What happens if you don't rinse quinoa before cooking? ›

    Rinsing quinoa definitely starts to hydrate the seeds. Flavor – In terms of flavor, the unrinsed quinoa definitely had a nuttier, earthier flavor, but I didn't find it bitter at all. The rinsed quinoa was definitely milder and the flavors more muted.

    What happens if you don't soak quinoa? ›

    Do you need to soak quinoa before cooking it? In short, no, you don't need to soak quinoa. However, doing so is said to remove phytic acid, which may make it easier for people to digest quinoa. If you just want to remove the bitter flavor from quinoa, rinse it under cold water for about a minute.

    Does it matter if you don't rinse quinoa? ›

    Some people are particularly sensitive to saponins, which is why unrinsed cooked quinoa has a reputation for tasting bitter. However, most quinoa that is sold in packages has been "pre-rinsed," which means the saponins have been removed and rinsing isn't necessary.

    Why should you soak quinoa before cooking? ›

    *Soaking grains helps to remove some of the naturally occurring phytic acid in the grain, which helps improve digestibility and speed cook time. To soak: Rinse quinoa thoroughly then add to a large mixing bowl or pot and cover with twice the amount of lukewarm water (2 cups water, 1 cup quinoa).

    What can I add to quinoa to make it less bitter? ›

    Butter: The lightly sweet flavor and richness of butter perfectly offsets the bitterness and dryness of quinoa. You can use coconut oil or olive oil for vegan. Olive oil can have a bitter aftertaste, so we prefer coconut oil. Garlic powder: Garlic powder adds a nice savory note to quinoa.

    How do you fix bland quinoa? ›

    20 Ways To Liven Up Bland Quinoa
    1. Toast your quinoa before you cook it. Felix Marx/Shutterstock. ...
    2. Splash in some orange juice. ...
    3. Boil in some beef broth. ...
    4. Mix in some fresh chopped herbs. ...
    5. Add a spoonful of pesto. ...
    6. Stir in crumbled feta or goat cheese. ...
    7. Toss in some chopped nuts. ...
    8. Add in diced, dried fruit like raisins.
    Aug 12, 2023

    How do you make quinoa not taste bad? ›

    The outer cover of quinoa tastes bitter and hence first make sure to rinse it in water well for three four times. And the ratio of quinoa to water is 1:2 while cooking. Once you are done rinsing, measure quinoa and add twice the amount of water to it and let it cook for exactly 20 minutes.

    What is best to eat with quinoa? ›

    Quinoa's got the carbs covered, so you'll likely want to add some additional protein (eggs, lentils, beans, tofu, chicken), a fat (olive oil, nuts, butter, cheese), and, ideally, some kind of fruit or vegetable (broccoli, berries, squash, spinach).

    What is the healthiest way to eat quinoa? ›

    Toss it in salads.

    Quinoa is a complete source of protein and makes a great addition to a healthy salad. The combination of fiber, protein and healthy fats can turn a light side salad into a robust entrée.

    References

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