Lemon and Herb Quinoa Recipe (2024)

I was recently doing an audit of my site and realized that I have been neglecting the side dishes category quite a bit. It is funny because I genuinely believe that sides, whether they are simple vegetable dishes or grains, are just as important as the main dish.

So today, I come to you with one of my go-to side dishes, Herbed Lemon Quinoa recipe. To me, this easy to make quinoa dish is the definition of using simple everyday ingredients to create a comforting meal with elaborate and satisfying flavors.

Whether you serve it as a warm side dish with chicken or meat dishes or as a cold salad in any of my quinoa salad recipes, I think this simple flavored quinoa recipe deserves a regular spot on your weekly menu.

Ingredients

The beauty of this lemon and herb quinoa recipe is that it is made with just a few ingredients that offer bold flavors. If you need ideas as to what to add to quinoa to add flavor, the simple ingredients below are a great place to start.

Let’s break it down:

• Shallots (or onion): If you have never cooked quinoa with onions, this is a great dish to start doing so. I used shallots here as I love their milder and sweeter flavors, but a small yellow onion would also work.
• Garlic
• Ground cumin: I find that ground cumin is at the top of the list when it comes to the list of spices to put in quinoa. It has a nice earthy flavor that compliments the overall flavors of the dish.
• Lemon and lemon zest: It is no secret that freshly squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest brightens the flavors of any recipe, especially when it is mixed with onion, garlic, and fresh herbs.
• Fresh Italian Parsley & Fresh Thyme: As I did with my Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad, this simple quinoa side dish is also elevated by the use of a handful of chopped fresh parsley and thyme. If you can get your hands on them, I recommend using fresh herbs, but their dried versions would also work.
• Olive Oil: While it is optional, I love drizzling it with a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil while it is still warm.
• Roasted Sliced Almonds: I used sliced almonds here, but other nuts such as pine nuts or hazelnuts would also work. I know it is an extra step, but roasting them for a few minutes in a skillet is an easy way to bring out their flavors.

How to Make Herbed Lemon Quinoa

The detailed steps to make this lemon quinoa recipe are:

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1. Sautee the flavoring agents: Start by heating a tablespoon of vegetable oil (coconut oil, grapeseed oil, or avocado oil would all work) in a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat. Add in the shallots and ground cumin and sauté until translucent, 4-5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds or so.
2. Toast quinoa: Add the raw rinsed and dried quinoa and toast for 3-4 minutes.
3. Add in the cooking liquid: I used water to cook the quinoa as I wanted it to have a neutral taste to benefit from the rest of the flavoring agents, but you can swap some of the liquid with vegetable or chicken broth if you’d like.
4. Season with salt and pepper: As it is with any dish, this lemon pepper quinoa benefits from proper seasoning. Be sure to season it well with salt and pepper.
5. Cook: Put the lid on, bring it a boil, turn the heat down to low, and cook for 15 minutes or until there are tiny holes on the surface of the quinoa. When cooked, remove from heat and let it rest for 10-15 minutes.
6. Add the flavorings: Fluff the quinoa with a fork and transfer it to a large bowl. Add in lemon juice, lemon zest, chopped parsley, and thyme. Give it a gentle toss. Taste for seasoning and add in if necessary.
   If preferred, drizzle with olive oil and top it off with a handful of roasted sliced almonds.
7. Serve: Transfer to a large serving plate and serve while still warm.

What To Serve It With

I thought it would be helpful to provide you with a few recipe ideas that you can pair this dish with. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Mediterranean Lemon Chicken
• Orange Chicken with Fennel
• Whole Roasted Chicken and Potatoes
• Instant Pot Pot Roast

Make-Ahead Instructions:

If you want to make this seasoned quinoa side dish ahead of time:

1. Cook the quinoa according to instructions in the recipe.
2. Let it cool to room temperature.
3. Place it in an airtight container and keep in the fridge. It should keep fresh up to 4 days.
4. When ready to serve, warm it up in a saucepan (or microwave).
5. Add in the quinoa seasonings, i.e. lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, thyme, and sliced almonds in the end. Give it a toss and serve.

Variations:

While I like this recipe as it is, I sometimes use it as a starting point and change it up based on the meal I am serving it with. Here are a few suggestions to help you make it your own:

• Add in a small chopped bell pepper or jalapeno: When I want to turn this seasoned quinoa into more of a light lunch, I usually add in a few more veggies like peppers. Similar to how I did with my Mexican Quinoa recipe, adding chopped peppers to this recipe not only provides a new layer of flavor but also increases its nutritional value.
• Mix it with a cup (or two) of fresh arugula or baby spinach: You can quickly turn this into a green lemon quinoa salad recipe by adding a handful of peppery arugula or baby spinach. And if you want to amp up the lemony flavors, be sure to use a drizzle of my basic lemon vinaigrette.
• Add in a cup of lentils into the mixture: If you want to make this simple quinoa dish even more filling, add in a cup of (rinsed) green lentils into the pot and cook quinoa and lentils together. Once they are cooked, follow the rest of the instructions as written.

A Few Helpful Tips:

• Rinse your quinoa before cooking: Unless you are buying pre-washed quinoa (affiliate link), it is a great idea to give a quick rinse to your quinoa. If you want to know why and how be sure to check out the post I wrote about how to rinse quinoa.
• Need more ideas for creating deliciously flavorful and seasoned quinoa recipes? If so, be sure to check out all my tips on how to make quinoa taste good.
• A note on the amount of salt used: In my opinion, the amount of salt that I listed in the recipe is not enough for flavorful lemon quinoa, but it is a great place to start. I recommend giving it a taste and adjusting it after adding all the garnishes. This way it will be properly seasoned to your liking.

There you have it friends, a gluten-free and vegan quinoa side dish that you can serve warm or cold, with meat or vegetable dishes or just by itself. Ready in less than 30 minutes, this easy to make seasoned quinoa is guaranteed to take its deserving place in your humble weekly or fancy VIP dinner menu.