Quinoa Vegetable Pilaf (Printable)

Colorful roasted vegetables meet fluffy quinoa with aromatic herbs for a satisfying, wholesome dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups vegetable broth or water

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 small zucchini, diced
05 - 1 small carrot, peeled and diced
06 - 1 small red onion, diced
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Aromatics & Seasonings

09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Fresh Herbs & Finish

14 - 0.25 cup chopped fresh parsley
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, optional
16 - Juice of 0.5 lemon

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat your oven to 425°F.
02 - On a large baking sheet, toss bell pepper, zucchini, carrot, red onion, and cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
03 - Roast vegetables in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring once, until golden and tender.
04 - Combine rinsed quinoa and vegetable broth in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
05 - Fluff quinoa with a fork.
06 - In a large skillet, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in cumin, thyme, and smoked paprika.
07 - Add cooked quinoa and roasted vegetables to the skillet. Toss gently to combine and warm through.
08 - Remove from heat. Add parsley, mint if using, and lemon juice. Toss well and adjust seasoning as needed.
09 - Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, so weeknight dinner stress actually disappears.
  • The roasted vegetables develop a subtle sweetness that makes you forget you're eating something wholesome.
  • This dish tastes even better the next day, making it the kind of meal that actually rewards meal prep.
02 -
  • Rinsing quinoa isn't optional—it makes an enormous difference in how it tastes, so don't skip it even if you're in a hurry.
  • The lemon juice isn't decoration; it's essential, so don't leave it out, and squeeze it fresh rather than using bottled.
03 -
  • Dice your vegetables slightly smaller than you might normally—they continue to soften and roast, and smaller pieces distribute flavor more evenly throughout the pilaf.
  • Don't skip the 5-minute rest for quinoa; it transforms the texture from slightly wet to perfectly fluffy, and it genuinely matters.
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