Smoky Paprika Quinoa Recipe

Smoky Paprika Quinoa is a light and healthy side dish that’s packed with wonderful flavors. It’s delicious with meats, chicken, fish and vegetables.I love smoked paprika — and even more, I love when I’m able to add the word “smoky” to a recipe title. It seems to add allure and mystery — and it always hints towards deliciousness.

This is no ordinary quinoa my friends. Every bite is packed with the flavors of the smoked paprika and fresh lemons.

What is Quinoa?

Quinoa is the edible seed of a flowering plant in the amaranth family.

The seeds are higher in nutrients than many other grains. Quinoa is rich in protein, dietary fiber, B vitamins, and dietary minerals.

What does Quinoa taste like?

It has a slightly nutty flavor with a bit of bitterness, and a subtle crunch. The quinoa seeds are able to soak up a lot of flavor — so it can ultimately take on the taste of the flavors of what it’s cooked with.

How to Best Cook Quinoa

Whenever you cook anything like this, (simmering food in a liquid, like rice, lentils, couscous, etc.), you should always think about adding flavors to the water or using a flavored liquid instead, such as stock, broth, or even fruit juice. Doing this will always make whatever you’re cooking more interesting and exciting.

What’s in Smoky Paprika Quinoa?

• vegetable stock
• quinoa
• smoked paprika
• lemon zest
• lemon juice
• olive oil
• garlic powder
• salt, pepper

What to Serve with Smoky Paprika Quinoa

This is an ideal, quick and easy side dish for almost any meal. It would be perfect with Apple-Bacon Roasted Chicken for a lovely, casual weekend get together.  

Really, it can fit alongside most meat, chicken and fish dishes. It’s fantastic to mix into salads, too.

I also use this Paprika Quinoa recipe to crust one of my favorite chicken recipes: Quinoa Fried Chicken (pictured below).

More “smoky” recipes, check out the list below:

Somky Tomato Fish Stew
Smoky Red Lentil “Hummus”
Smoky Tomato Chipotle Bacon Deviled Eggs
Smoky Chipotle Breakfast Nachos
Smoky Paprika-Bacon Roasted Turkey
Smoky Chipotle Parmesan French Fries

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Smoky Paprika Quinoa Recipe

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

20 mins

 

Smoky Paprika Quinoa is a light and healthy side dish that's packed with wonderful flavors. It's delicious with meats, chicken, fish and vegetables.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: great with chicken, great with meat, unique vegan sides

Servings: 2 to 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup dry quinoa
• 1¾ cups vegetable stock
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest (from about 1 small lemon)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 1 small lemon)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. In a small to medium-sized sauce pan, combine all of the ingredients.
2. Gently stir to be sure everything is mixed in.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer until all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
4. Stir to fluff it up a bit.
5. Serve!