Thai Coconut Quinoa Bowl (Printable)

Creamy coconut quinoa with crisp vegetables and zesty peanut dressing. Ready in 40 minutes.

# 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
14 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
15 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
16 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
17 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
18 - 1 to 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 the bell pepper, julienne or shred the carrot, and slice the cucumber and cabbage. Cook edamame if not already done.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, maple syrup, and sesame oil. Add warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until dressing is smooth and pourable.
04 - Divide coconut quinoa among four serving bowls. Top each with an even amount of vegetables and edamame.
05 - Drizzle generously with peanut dressing. Garnish with chopped cilantro and sesame seeds. Serve immediately or chill for a refreshing cold bowl.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The coconut milk transforms ordinary quinoa into something creamy and subtly sweet without any dairy.
  • You can prep everything ahead and it tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal-prep Sundays.
  • That peanut dressing is so addictive you'll find yourself making extra just to drizzle over other things.
02 -
  • Don't cook the dressing or try to heat it—the heat will break down the peanut butter and make it grainy and separated.
  • If your dressing breaks or looks separated, start fresh with a clean bowl and whisk the peanut butter with a tiny bit of water first to create a smooth base before adding the other ingredients.
03 -
  • Make the dressing in a jar with a tight lid and keep it in the fridge for up to a week—shake it before using, and it's perfect for drizzling over literally anything.
  • Cook a big batch of quinoa on Sunday and portion it into containers; the coconut flavor actually deepens slightly over a few days, so day-three leftovers are sometimes better than day-one.
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