Harvest Quinoa with Vegetables (Printable)
Vibrant quinoa combined with roasted autumn vegetables, toasted nuts, and a tangy citrus dressing.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups vegetable broth or water
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 cup butternut squash, peeled and diced
04 - 1 cup sweet potato, peeled and diced
05 - 1 cup Brussels sprouts, halved
06 - 1 red onion, cut into wedges
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Nuts & Seeds
09 - ⅓ cup pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
10 - 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
→ Dressing
11 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
12 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
13 - 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
14 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
15 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
17 - ¼ cup dried cranberries
18 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Arrange butternut squash, sweet potato, Brussels sprouts, and red onion on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, then toss to coat evenly.
03 - Roast vegetables for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and caramelized.
04 - While vegetables roast, combine quinoa and vegetable broth in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
05 - Toast pecans and pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant.
06 - Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, orange juice, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
07 - In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, roasted vegetables, toasted nuts and seeds, and dried cranberries. Drizzle dressing over and toss gently to combine.
08 - Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It tastes like autumn in every bite, with natural sweetness from roasted vegetables that doesn't need a heavy hand.
- One bowl covers your grains, vegetables, and protein all at once, so meal prep becomes almost effortless.
- It holds beautifully in the fridge, getting better as flavors meld overnight.
02 -
- Rinsing quinoa prevents a chalky mouthfeel that surprised me the first time I skipped this step.
- Roasting vegetables on a single layer makes them caramelize instead of steam, which completely changes the texture and depth of flavor.
03 -
- Toasting nuts and seeds in a dry skillet rather than using pre-roasted ones elevates the entire dish with negligible extra effort.
- Don't skip the parsley garnish, even though it seems like a small finishing touch, because the fresh green completely transforms how the bowl tastes and feels.