One Pan Mexican Quinoa

Guest post by Ben

Hello my beautiful friends, are you already caught up in the frenzy of the holidays? At the SevenRoses HQ there’s a lot of baking going on and way too much cookie testing, while preparing the guest room for a friend, and a lot of DIY, glue guns, wreaths and greenery all over the place. That’s why the recipe I’m sharing with you today is perfect for this time of the year. This easy & yummy One Pan Mexican Quinoa from Ben, the creator of The Online Grill, can be made in just one pan in a short time, and that means less washing up and more time to deck the halls :-)
I’m sure you’ll love this vibrant recipe, so please welcome Ben as he shares his One Pan Mexican Quinoa with us!

Fast food needn’t be greasy or unhealthy. With a one-pot, one-stop quinoa bowl, you can get oodles of fresh tasty vegetables and grains to brighten up your day. With just one pan and some nimble hands, this luscious vegan meal is jam-packed with nutrients and protein. What’s more, this invigorating bowl takes just 25 minutes from start to finish, and with hardly any washing up to boot.

I’ve sometimes found quinoa quite difficult to come up with ideas for, but this quick and healthy one pan Mexican quinoa dish is overflowing with fantastic flavors. The rich tomatoes and the punchy jalapeno peppers match perfectly. Add some buttery avocado, a fresh bunch of fresh and citrusy cilantro leaves and some spicy chilli powder, and we’re left with a real winner.

The Mexican theme really brings out the nutty quinoa and zingy vegetables with a decent spice balance. Finish it with lime and bingo! A zesty Mexican miracle. Who said salads need to be boring?

Although we could eat this any day of the week, it is a perfect diet antidote that makes for a light change in the weekly dinner routine. Sometimes we just feel sluggish after eating too much heavy food; I’ve been there, you’ve been there, we’ve all been there. This is a perfect solution.

Forget the lifeless lettuce leaves and humdrum salads, here we have completely natural ingredients that are all vegan, brimming with everything you could need for a well balanced meal. We have avocados for heart-healthy unsaturated fat, quinoa, beans for wholesome proteins and fibre, tomatoes for vitamins and antioxidants, and spicy chili which hold wondrous fat-fighting capsaicin. It’s like a diet without really even trying.

Cooking up this meal requires minimum space and effort, and is ideal for those days when you just don’t feel like doing much at all. You just chop, cook and watch the flavors and ingredients meld together in the pan. Serving is simple, and you can totally adjust the ingredients with additional vegetables or serve it up as a side dish. We think it goes particularly well with a barbecue, but the beauty of this dish is it is completely filling all on its own. So satisfy your healthy vegan craving with some one pan Mexican quinoa.

…That’s it! This dish is all about simplicity without compromising on nutrition, and it’s super satisfying to eat too.

I’d love to know what you all think. Do you have a different ingredient that you prefer to use? Do you have a different version that you stick to? Let me know!

Ben is a former semi-pro cyclist and big eater. Now he is just a big eater. He writes about food and drink for lazy chefs at The Online Grill.
Also make sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram

Did you enjoy this recipe? ♥ I’d love for you to pin it :-) Also don’t forget to visit my One-pot Wonders board on Pinterest for hundreds more easy recipes that come together magically in only one pot!