Thai Coconut Quinoa Bowl (Printable Version)

Creamy coconut quinoa with crisp vegetables and zesty peanut dressing for healthy lunch or dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Coconut Quinoa

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 1 cup coconut milk, full-fat or light
03 - 1 cup water
04 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced
06 - 1 cup carrot, julienned or shredded
07 - 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
08 - 1 cup purple cabbage, shredded
09 - ½ cup edamame, cooked and shelled
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
11 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

→ Peanut Dressing

12 - ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
13 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce, gluten-free or regular
14 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
15 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
16 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
17 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
18 - 1–2 tablespoons warm water, as needed

# How-To Steps:

01 - Combine quinoa, coconut milk, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, let sit covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
02 - While quinoa cooks, slice red bell pepper, julienne or shred carrot, slice cucumber and cabbage. Cook edamame if not already done.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, maple syrup or honey, and sesame oil. Add warm water 1 tablespoon at a time until dressing is smooth and pourable.
04 - Divide cooked coconut quinoa among four bowls. Top each with equal portions of vegetables and edamame.
05 - Drizzle generously with peanut dressing. Garnish with chopped cilantro and sesame seeds. Serve immediately or chill for a cold presentation.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The coconut milk transforms plain quinoa into something rich and comforting without any heaviness.
  • You can prep everything while the quinoa cooks, so there's barely any cleanup afterward.
  • One batch of dressing stretches across four bowls, making it perfect for meal prep or feeding a crowd without stress.
02 -
  • If your dressing breaks or looks separated, whisk in a teaspoon of warm water and it will come back together; this taught me not to panic the first time it happened.
  • Underfilled bowls mean every other bite is vegetables without the creamy base, so make sure you're generous with that quinoa foundation.
03 -
  • Make the dressing first and let it sit while you cook; the flavors develop and the sesame oil distributes more evenly.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 30 seconds right before garnishing, and you'll taste the difference immediately.
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