Thai Coconut Quinoa Bowl (Printable)

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

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 lime juice, fresh
16 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
17 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
18 - 1 to 2 tablespoons warm water, as needed

# How-To Steps:

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, slice the cucumber and cabbage, and cook the edamame if not already done.
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 is smooth and pourable.
04 - Divide cooked coconut quinoa evenly among four bowls. Top each with an even portion of vegetables and edamame.
05 - Drizzle each bowl generously with peanut dressing. Garnish with chopped cilantro and sesame seeds. Serve immediately or chill for a refreshing cold bowl.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent but actually keeps you energized instead of sluggish, which is the real win.
  • You can prep vegetables while the quinoa simmers, so you're never standing around waiting.
  • The peanut dressing is so versatile you'll find yourself drizzling it on everything else you cook.
  • It's naturally vegan and gluten-free without any fussy substitutions or apologizing.
02 -
  • The peanut dressing needs to be pourable but not runny—add water gradually and taste as you go, because once you oversaturate it, there's no coming back.
  • If your quinoa turns out mushy, you either cooked it too long or used too much liquid, and it's worth understanding the difference so next time it's perfect.
03 -
  • Prep the vegetables the night before and keep them in separate containers—they stay fresher and assembly becomes a five-minute operation instead of a half-hour project.
  • Whisk the dressing while the quinoa cooks so everything finishes at the same time and flavors haven't had a chance to separate.
Go Back