10 healthy quinoa recipes to help you lose weight

If you are trying to lose weight, you are well aware of the challenges that come with trying to find great tasting foods that are related to your weight loss goals. If you are not already familiar with quinoa, it is a gluten-free seed that looks like rice and contains nine essential amino acids. Low in calories. These are 10 recipes with quinoa, healthy, excellent for your weight loss goal and that you will surely love.

10 healthy recipes with quinoa to lose weight

Not surprisingly, the foods that taste the best are usually the ones that are bad for you, often loaded with calories, salt, sugar, or fat – and in many cases, all four. With that said, there is one food that is low in calories, tastes great, and is an excellent source of protein: quinoa.

Unlike rice, quinoa has a grainy texture that many have described as similar to oatmeal. If you have never tried quinoa, this article is for you, as we will detail some recipes with quinoa that are not only healthy, but delicious that will make your mouth water.

If you’re a vegetarian, you don’t have to worry as we’ve got you covered too.

Healthy breakfast with quinoa

Regardless of your weight loss goals, it is always a good idea to start your day with a healthy breakfast. Although quinoa is probably not the first thing that comes to mind, it can be a great-tasting healthy breakfast.

For example, it can be used to make a hearty breakfast with protein and complex carbohydrates to help you get through the morning. To get started, here is a list of the ingredients you will need:

• 1 cup dry white quinoa.
• 2 cups of water.
• 1 tablespoon of honey.
• A pinch of sea salt.
• ½ cup soy or almond milk.

As you may have noticed, the ingredient list is short, which means less prep time and more time to enjoy a delicious meal. Now is the time to mix all of these healthy ingredients together. Here are the directions for a great tasting breakfast cereal:

1. Pour the dried quinoa into a large skillet, then add water, honey, and salt; Mix the ingredients until well mixed, bring to a boil and let the mixture cook for 15 minutes.
2. Remove the skillet from the heat and pour it into a serving bowl before adding the warm milk of your choice.
3. To add a pop of color and a little more nutritional value, consider topping your cereal with fruits like apricots, bananas, or walnuts and enjoy.

Smoothie with quinoa for breakfast

For those who lead busy lives, a breakfast is not always ideal. If this is your case, you will enjoy a quinoa-based breakfast shake. As a side note, it also makes a great midday snack or snack. With that said, let’s take a look at what the ingredient list entails:

• ½ cup cooked quinoa, a whole grain carbohydrate.
• 1 frozen banana.
• 1 cup frozen berries.
• 1 ½ cups of green tea.
• Ice.

Again, we try to keep the ingredient list as minimal as possible for those who prefer to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying their meals. With that said, let’s take a look at how to make this delicious flavored shake:

1. Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. If you prefer a sweeter shake, consider whole grain red quinoa instead.
3. It goes without saying that making a smoothie requires minimal instruction. Once everything is mixed, pour yourself a glass and enjoy.

Quinoa bars with almonds as snacks

Going overboard when it comes to a snack is a great way to derail your weight loss goals. At just 94 calories, a gluten-free, quinoa-based whole grain carbohydrate is a great way to satisfy your hunger without ruining your long-term goals.

With that said, it’s important to note that this recipe requires a bit of prep time, but it’s worth it. Plus, they can be refrigerated, allowing you to enjoy them throughout the week. For this whole-grain quinoa recipe, here’s what you’ll need in terms of ingredients:

• 1/3 cup dry whole grain quinoa.
• 2 cups of water.
• 12 whole dates.
• ½ cup whole almonds without skin.
• ½ cup of grated coconut.
• ¼ cup gluten-free chocolate chips.

Now that we’ve detailed what you need for this recipe, let’s turn our attention to making these delicious quinoa bars:

1. Pour the quinoa into a small saucepan and cover it with a lid.
2. Bring to a boil and then lower to simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Let the mixture cool, then place it in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
4. After cooling, add the almonds, dates, coconut to the quinoa, and place the mixture in a food processor to combine all the ingredients.
5. After the ingredients are combined, pour them into a mixing bowl and begin shaping them into a bar.
6. Melt the chocolate over low heat, drizzle a little on each bar, and place the bars back in the fridge to chill for about an hour.

Protein bars with quinoa to give you more energy

If you’re really into working out, quinoa bars can be a great way to fuel your body for those grueling workouts.

Like almond bars, these protein bars will take a bit of prep and cooking time, but can also be kept in the fridge for when you need a quick bite to eat or a snack to take with you on the way to the gym. This is what you will need to get started:

• ½ cup whole wheat quinoa.
• 2/3 cup of water.
• 16 dates.
• ½ peeled almonds.
• 1/3 cup peanut or almond butter.
• ¼ cup chocolate chips.

Instructions:

1. Pour water and whole wheat quinoa into a skillet and cover with a lid.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for about 15 minutes, then let it cool.
3. Pour the mixture into a food processor and add dates and pulse until the mixture reaches a paste-like consistency before pouring everything into a mixing bowl.
4. Add peanut or almond butter and form the bars
5. Heat the honey and chocolate chips until well combined and drizzle the mixture over your bars.
6. Put your protein snack back in the fridge to chill for about 2 hours before consuming.

Healthy burgers with quinoa

While burgers are often the antithesis of healthy eating, whole grain or whole grain quinoa burgers at just 268 calories are a different story.

It’s no surprise that burger quinoa recipes take a great deal of preparation and cooking time, but they’re packed with flavor and well worth the time spent making. This is what you will need to get started:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• ¼ cup onion, minced (red).
• 1 cup of cooked whole quinoa.
• 1 cup of lentils, cooked and drained.
• 1 can diced green chilies.
• ½ cup oatmeal.
• ¼ cup whole wheat flour.
• ¼ cup whole wheat bread crumbs.
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder.
• ½ teaspoon of cumin.
• 1 teaspoon of paprika.
• 1 tablespoon ground flax seed.
• a pinch of salt and pepper.
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard.
• 3 teaspoons of honey.

Instructions:

1. Pour the oil and onions into a saucepan and cook until tender.
2. Mix the onion and all the other ingredients in a mixing bowl before shaping the patties.
3. Shape the hamburgers and let it rest for fifteen minutes before cooking.
4. In a separate skillet, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cook the patties until both sides are golden brown.
5. Add the burgers to a whole wheat bun and other seasonings of your choice, tomato, onion, lettuce, mayonnaise, pickled pickles, etc.

Meatless meatballs with quinoa

Quinoa recipes are delicious, and these meatballs are no exception, on the contrary, if you are a vegetarian, vegetarian meatballs are an excellent option and, best of all, they are only 291 calories and they are delicious!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of water.
• ½ cup whole-grain quinoa cooked and rinsed.
• ¼ cup diced red bell pepper.
• 1 cup of green lentils, cooked and drained.
• 2 garlic cloves, minced.
• ½ cup onion, minced.
• ¼ grated Parmesan cheese.
• 1 tablespoon parsley leaves.
• ½ cup gluten-free bread crumbs.
• 1 teaspoon oregano.
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper.
• ½ teaspoon black pepper.
• 1 egg white.
• 3 tablespoons olive oil.

Instructions:

1. Pour the water and quinoa into a pan and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes.
3. In a separate skillet, add the onions, peppers, and olive oil and cook until the ingredients are tender. Next, add the oregano, garlic, and parsley to the mixture and cook for an additional minute.
4. Remove the quinoa from the heat, drain, and soak up the excess water with a paper towel.
5. Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl and puree the mixture until the lentils are soft. Next, form the meatballs and refrigerate for 2 hours.
6. Add the olive oil to the nonstick skillet and place the meatballs; over medium heat, brown all sides of the meatballs.
7. Optionally you can bathe them in a tomato sauce based on onion, garlic, coriander and tomato.

Mushrooms with quinoa

If you are a vegetarian, you will love these Meatless Portobello Mushrooms. In fact, even if you are not a vegetarian, you will love them.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup of water.
• 1/3 cup quinoa.
• 4 large Portobello mushrooms uncovered.
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar.
• ¼ teaspoon chopped red bell peppers.
• 1 cup diced tomatoes.
• 1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs.
• ¼ cup basil, chopped.
• ½ cup fat-free feta cheese.

Instructions

Heat the oven to 375 degrees.

1. Add water and quinoa to a medium-size saucepan, cover, and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce the heat and continue cooking for 15 minutes or until all the water is absorbed.
3. Place the mushrooms on a baking sheet open side up and brush with olive oil. Let them cook for 10 minutes.
4. Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
5. Add the mixture to each mushroom and bake for 12 minutes. Allow the mushrooms to cool completely before eating.

Black beans with quinoa

Quinoa recipes are a great source of plant protein for vegetarians. And if you’re a fan of black beans and rice, you’re going to love this Black Bean Quinoa Rice-Free Dish.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• 1 medium chopped onion, sweet.
• 2 garlic cloves, minced.
• 1/2 cup uncooked whole wheat quinoa.
• 1 cup black beans.
• 1 teaspoon chili powder.
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes.
• 1 teaspoon of cumin.
• ½ teaspoon black pepper.
• 2 diced tomatoes.
• ½ cup cilantro, roughly chopped.
• 1 ¾ cup low sodium vegetable broth.

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet.
2. Lower the heat and add the sauteed onions until tender. Then add the garlic and sauté for an additional minute.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and then cover the pan, bringing everything to a boil.
4. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Use a spoon to fluff up the mixture and enjoy

Quinoa and Vegetable Wraps

If you’re pressed for time and need a quick low-calorie snack before starting your day, you really can’t go wrong with the 364-calorie Quinoa Vegetable Wraps.

Ingredients

• 1 cauliflower omelet.
• ¼ cup whole cooked quinoa.
• 1 carrot, grated.
• ¼ avocado sliced.
• 2 tablespoons hummus.

Instructions

The cauliflower omelet is made by grinding a cooked cauliflower, drained by pressing so that the water comes out, adding coriander, chia seeds (previously seated in water and drained to make them remove their gel) and salt, and once the mixture is made, forming tortillas placing one by one on the comal to cook them.

Then you just have to add the ingredients inside your cauliflower omelet, roll it up and enjoy a delicious treat to the palate.

Avocado toast with quinoa

If you’re a fan of hassle-free quinoa recipes, you’ll love this 184 calorie snack, and best of all, the ingredient list is short and includes:

• 1 large avocado.
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
• low calorie cheese.
• a pinch of salt and pepper.
• ½ cup cooked quinoa.
• 4 slices of whole wheat toast.

Instructions

1. Cut the avocado and put it in a bowl with the cooked quinoa, lemon and grated cheese.
2. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
3. Spread the mixture on the toast and cover with a little grated cheese.