Looking for a healthy twist on your favorite Indian rice dishes? Try these Indian quinoa recipes.
They’re filled with classic Indian spices and flavors. And they’re oh-so-delicious.
20 Easy Indian Recipes with Quinoa
Quinoa is jam-packed with healthy nutrients, fiber, and protein.
It includes nine essential amino acids and is a fantastic, non-meat source of protein.
So that makes it the ideal addition to all your favorite Indian recipes!
This list of Indian quinoa recipes includes dishes that can be made in an Instant Pot or on the stove.
So whether you’re looking for an easy side dish or a main meal, you’ll find it here!
1. Quinoa Upma
This healthy and easy-to-make Indian quinoa recipe is so delicious.
To start this recipe, toast your spices for maximum flavor. Once they’re all fried up, you start adding veggies.
Cook the quinoa with the veggies so that it soaks up all of those delicious flavors.
This dish can easily be enjoyed for any meal. You can even experiment with the veggies and use whatever you have on hand.
2. Vegetable Quinoa Pulao
This recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a weekend lunch. As a bonus, it’s vegan, low-carb, and gluten-free.
This quinoa dish is filled with veggies and Indian spices. I also love that you can make it in a pressure cooker or on the stove.
You can use either fresh or frozen veggies for this recipe. Use what you like and use what you have.
You can also use any kind of quinoa for this recipe.
So don’t worry if you don’t have a certain kind. You will love this flavorful Indian quinoa dish.
3. Quinoa Khichdi Recipe in Pressure Cooker
This Instant Pot dish is easy and will be on the table in just about 30 minutes. It’s tasty, nutritious, and flavorful.
Quinoa Khichdi is delicious comfort food. Using quinoa instead of rice makes the dish low-carb and it has a nice nutty flavor.
This dish can easily be customized. If you like more moong dal (lentils) and less quinoa, or vice-versa, you can adjust the recipe.
4. Indian Vegetarian Mulligatawny Soup
This soup is perfect for cool weather. It’s a beautiful color and it can easily be made in a pressure cooker or InstantPot.
This soup is made with fantastic ingredients. Combine red lentils, rice, apples, coconut milk, veggies, and garlic.
All of the flavors come together perfectly for a rich and creamy soup that everybody will love.
This delicious soup will keep you warm, full, and comforted during the cold weather months.
5. Quinoa Bisibelebath – Pressure Cooker
This dish, pronounced “bisi bele bath,” is easy to make, and loaded with vegetables. It’s healthy and delicious.
The stars of this dish are quinoa and lentils. They make it so filling and nutritious.
This bisibelebath is full of spices and yummy vegetables. You’ll love this Instant Pot quinoa dish.
6. Quinoa Biryani – Instant Pot & Stovetop
This dish is full of hearty vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and green beans. It will keep you full and satisfied.
No need to spend a lot of time cleaning, as this recipe can be made in one pot.
Whether you use a pressure cooker or the stovetop method, this meal is super easy.
One of my favorite parts of this dish is the paneer. However, feel free to leave it out if you’re aiming for a vegan meal.
7. Spicy Indian Tofu Red Quinoa Salad (Instant pot and Stovetop)
Spicy Indian tofu and red quinoa salad is refreshing and flavorful. It’s ready in about 30 minutes, and you only need a few ingredients.
The tofu in this salad is so crispy and adds a wonderful texture. The veggies are really colorful so this dish is beautiful too!
The salad is tossed in a zesty curry dressing that pulls it all together and tastes incredible!
8. Instant Pot Lemon Quinoa (South Indian Style)
This Instant Pot dish will be your new favorite lunch or side dish. It’s simple but delicious.
This tasty dish is lemony and nutty. It’s spiced with mustard seeds, curry leaves, lemon, ginger, and green chili.
I love the flavors and crunch in this dish. Plus, the Instant Pot does most of the work!
9. Curd Quinoa
This is a quinoa dish from southern India that has curd (similar to yogurt) along with Indian spices like ginger.
This is an easy and healthy dish that is perfect for the whole family.
This is traditionally made with rice but quinoa is a lot more nutritious.
Curd is made by curdling milk with some type of acid like citrus juice or vinegar.
This is a staple in southern India but it is easily enjoyed by anybody around the world.
10. Chana Masala
Chana masala is a healthy dish that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. This saucy chickpea dish is easy to make and super delicious.
This dish tastes amazing with a side of quinoa or even rice if you prefer. This would also be amazing in a Buddha bowl type of meal.
11. Quinoa Dosa
This dosa recipe is a healthy twist on a traditional Indian dosa. It’s a quick and easy meal with fantastic flavor.
Dosa is a type of thin pancake that’s a little bit like a crepe. However, the batter is made of quinoa and spices.
If you can follow these recipe instructions closely, you’ll have some fantastic, crispy, and versatile Indian dosa.
12. Quinoa Kheer | Quinoa Pudding
For a nice change, this quinoa recipe is sweet instead of savory. You only need a few simple ingredients for this recipe.
Quinoa kheer or quinoa pudding is made with quinoa, milk, sugar, and condensed milk.
It’s also full of delicious flavors like cardamom and saffron.
This is a great way to enjoy quinoa if you’re craving something sweet.
13. Curried Coconut Quinoa and Greens with Roasted Cauliflower
This is not a traditional Indian meal but it is packed with Indian spices and flavors.
Curry powder, turmeric, and coconut milk are fantastic with quinoa. The roasted cauliflower is a crunchy addition that rounds out the dish.
This is a simple meal that’s healthy and delicious.
14. Chickpea & Quinoa Burgers
These chickpea and quinoa burgers are one of my favorite meatless burger options. They’re still full of protein and full of flavor.
The main “meat” of these burgers is the chickpeas, and quinoa and the spices take it to another level.
Use any toppings and types of buns you want, but I love adding hummus to mine.
15. Dehli Street Food – Quinoa Potato Cakes
This Delhi street food recipe makes the perfect appetizer, Indian snack, or even brunch.
This recipe combines quinoa with potatoes to make little cakes of total tastiness.
These quinoa cakes are delicious as breakfast or brunch food. The potatoes and spices pair perfectly with eggs and other breakfast foods.
These are so good, they’ll disappear.
16. Quinoa and Beetroot Cheese Patties
These quinoa and beetroot cheese patties are oddly delicious. They’re a fantastic way to add extra veggies to your diet.
All of the flavors and spices in these patties are so good. These are packed with protein and taste great, too!
Enjoy these patties with some yogurt dip and a squeeze of lemon juice.
17. Indian-spiced Quinoa
I think this Indian-spiced quinoa is a fantastic side dish or vegetarian meal.
This dish is filled with classic Indian spices like cardamom, curry leaves, and cinnamon.
The bright green peas are tasty pops of color and texture.
I think the sliced almonds on top of this quinoa dish add a wonderful crunch and flavor.
18. Quinoa Kosumbari
Kosumbari is a traditional side dish in southern India.
This dish is made with quinoa, cucumbers, lentils, grated coconut, chilis, and lemon juice.
All of the ingredients combine to make a fantastic quinoa side dish.
This dish would also be a delicious and easy lunch meal.
19. Indian Curry Quinoa
This Indian curry quinoa is easy to make and you might even have everything on hand in your pantry.
Cook the quinoa in coconut milk and tomatoes so that all the flavors really meld together.
You can also add any veggies you want. This recipe includes carrots, kale, and spinach.
This quinoa dish is filling and flavorful. It’s perfect for any meal.
20. Indian Quinoa Salad
Indian quinoa salad makes a light and refreshing dinner or lunch.
It has tons of veggies and flavors that are bright and delicious.
The lemon juice, cilantro, and chili peppers really stand out and make this dish taste fabulous.
This dish is yummy and pretty to look at, but don’t stress about the presentation. It will get devoured in no time!