Try swapping out traditional rice for quinoa in this easy quinoa fried “rice” recipe! It’s amazingly flavorful and delicious, and only takes about 15 minutes to make.
A year ago I shared my hands-down, all-time, better-than-the-restaurant, finally-perfected, FAVORITE fried rice recipe. Readers have made it hundreds of time since and love it. I have made it countless times ever since and love it. Let’s be real — the world loves some good fried rice.
But last week when a cold and stressful day hit and all I was craving a bowl of rice, a tiny problem popped up: no rice in the casa.
Argh. So I scavenged my pantry and decided to try subbing in the next closest thing: quinoa.
Game changer.
Quinoa Fried Rice Recipe | 1-Minute Video
I probably shouldn’t have been surprised by this one. I regularly sub in rice and farro for quinoa in recipes that call for rice, and know that it is usually a great swap. But this was fried rice that we’re talkin’ about here. The holy grail of rice dishes, in my book. Very, very rice-ish.
Still, it was rainy out and I didn’t want to traipse across the neighborhood to my Chinese restaurant. So quinoa it was.
I whipped up a batch of quinoa, made using veggie stock (my favorite). Then in order to speed up the chilling process (essential for making fried rice), I spread it out on a baking sheet and popped it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, I chopped and sauteed my veggies and garlic, and got things rolling. Then finally added in the chilled quinoa and the remainder of the ingredients, sauteed in lots of butter over high heat (my secret to fried rice).
The result?!
Well, honestly, the result was the best compliment I could pay to this dish:
It tasted just like fried rice!!!
Again, this probably should not have come as any sort of surprise. But after finally landing on my perfected recipe for fried rice, I was a little shocked that quinoa could swoop in so stealthily and carry the dish. But it did! And it was just as delicious and comforting and satisfying as the original, but made a bit healthier with the addition of protein-packed quinoa.
Win = win.
Look out rice, I’m totally making this again.
Quinoa Fried "Rice"
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- 2 eggs, whisked
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- salt and pepper
- 4 cups cooked and chilled quinoa (*see instructions here for how to cook quinoa)
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- 3-4 tablespoons soy sauce, or more to taste
- 2 teaspoons oyster sauce (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Instructions
- Heat 1/2 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until melted. Add egg, and cook until scrambled, stirring occasionally. Remove egg, and transfer to a separate plate.
- Add an additional 1 tablespoon butter to the pan and heat until melted. Add carrots, onion, peas and garlic, and season with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Saute for about 5 minutes or until the onion and carrots are soft. Increase heat to high, add in the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter, and stir until melted. Immediately add the cooked quinoa, green onions, soy sauce and oyster sauce (if using), and stir until combined. Continue stirring for an additional 3 minutes to fry the quinoa. Then add in the eggs and stir to combine. Add the sesame oil, stir to combine, and remove from heat.
- Serve warm.
Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
We tried this last night, and it was pretty good! We may make a few changes next time, but all in all its a great recipe!
Thanks Kerstin, we’re glad you enjoyed it! :)
I love your original fried rice for a quick dinner, but was hesitant to try the quinoa. So glad I did- I like it even more than rice!
Thanks Sarah, we’re so glad to hear that! :D
Fried and tried! Delicious! Thanks for sharing.
You’re very welcome Shanna, we’re happy you liked it! :)
Hi Ali, this looks delicious! Do you have an idea on the nutrition facts per serving size? Thank you!
Thanks Kaitlin, we hope you enjoy! Unfortunately though we aren’t sure of the nutrition facts/amount of calories in this recipe. We currently are not publishing nutrition facts on the site, as the nutrition calculators available are not 100% accurate, and we never want to publish anything that might be misleading. However, a lot of our readers love the My Fitness Pal nutrition calculator, so feel free to try that for an estimate. We hope that helps!
Just made this and it is delicious! Will be on my dinner rotation! I added some sriracha sauce near the end with the sesame oil to give it an extra kick, and it turned out amazing!
Thanks Larry, we’re so glad you enjoyed it! :D
do you have the nutritional info for this? calories per serving etc.? looks yummy!!
Hi Michelle! We’re sorry but we are unsure of the nutrition facts/amount of calories in this recipe. We currently are not publishing nutrition facts on the site, as the nutrition calculators available are not 100% accurate, and we never want to publish anything that might be misleading. However, a lot of our readers love the My Fitness Pal nutrition calculator, so feel free to try that for an estimate. We hope that helps!
I’m learning to cook with quiona lately. Is there much difference between the colors? I typically just buy whichever is least expensive at the co-op (typically red). Does it matter?
Hi Melissa! There is a slight difference in cooking times (for example, black quinoa tends to need longer to cook than white quinoa, as it is more on the crunchy side). Red is somewhere in between. But that’s really the only difference (other than the colors), so we say keep buying whatever is most affordable! :)
my DD is allergic to sesame ( in addition to many other foods). Any idea on sub for the sesame oil or just leave it out?
Looks awesome-can’t wait to try!
Hi Nancy! We would just leave the sesame oil out, since it’s such a small amount anyway. We hope you enjoy! :)
Strange question but do you think I could make up a couple big batches and freeze? I’m a homeschooling mom
With three little kids and I seem to make this often and then post bedtime the kitchen mess I’ve made leaves me wishing I double it tripled my batch.
Hi Sara – not a strange question at all! You can definitely freeze this. Just let the cooked quinoa cool down completely, then transfer it to a an airtight, freezer-safe container, or a resealable plastic bag. If using the bag, press all the air out before sealing, then pat the quinoa into an even layer before freezing. We hope this helps!
How many calories per serving?
Hi Rebecca! We’re sorry but we are unsure of the nutrition facts/amount of calories in this recipe. We currently are not publishing nutrition facts on the site, as the nutrition calculators available are not 100% accurate, and we never want to publish anything that might be misleading. However, a lot of our readers love the My Fitness Pal nutrition calculator, so feel free to try that for an estimate. We hope that helps!