Thai Coconut Quinoa Bowl (Printable)

Nourishing coconut quinoa paired with fresh vegetables and zesty peanut dressing for a vibrant meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Coconut Quinoa

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 1 cup coconut milk, full-fat or light
03 - 1 cup water
04 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced
06 - 1 cup carrot, julienned or shredded
07 - 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
08 - 1 cup purple cabbage, shredded
09 - ½ cup edamame, cooked and shelled
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
11 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

→ Peanut Dressing

12 - ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
13 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce, gluten-free if needed
14 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
15 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
16 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
17 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
18 - 1-2 tablespoons warm water, as needed

# How To Make It:

01 - Combine quinoa, coconut milk, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
02 - While quinoa cooks, slice bell pepper into thin strips, julienne or shred carrot, slice cucumber and cabbage into thin pieces. Cook edamame if not already prepared.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, maple syrup or honey, and sesame oil. Add warm water one tablespoon at a time until dressing reaches smooth, pourable consistency.
04 - Divide cooked coconut quinoa evenly among four bowls. Top each with equal portions of prepared vegetables and edamame.
05 - Drizzle peanut dressing generously over each bowl. Garnish with chopped cilantro and sesame seeds. Serve immediately or chill for a cold bowl option.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour and actually tastes better than anything you'd order out.
  • The vegetables stay crisp, the quinoa stays tender, and the dressing is addictively nutty without being heavy.
  • You can meal prep it, eat it warm, chill it overnight, or modify it depending on what's in your pantry.
02 -
  • Undercooked quinoa tastes grainy in a bad way, but overcooked quinoa becomes mushy—set a timer and respect it, even if you're busy doing something else.
  • The dressing changes everything: too thick and it clings to nothing, too thin and it disappears into the grains. Start conservative with the water and adjust as you go.
03 -
  • Cook your quinoa ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to five days, then you can assemble this bowl in about ten minutes whenever you need something healthy and fast.
  • The vegetables don't have to be raw—roasted carrots and bell peppers add a different kind of deliciousness and can make this feel more like a cozy dinner than a light lunch.
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