Quinoa Pulao

Quinoa Pulao in Instant Pot is what a quick recipe dreams are made of. And this Quinoa Pilaf also happens to be a nutrition bomb, loaded with veggies & spicy chicken strips! Learn how to make the best Vegetable Quinoa Pulao in Instant Pot with easy steps & a video to watch. Stove-top method is included too.

Watch Quinoa Pulao Video below

Instant Pot Quinoa Pilaf

This Instant Pot Quinoa Pilaf will make any Quinoa hater to bend down on knees & beg for more 😉

Oh yes! we did something with the recipe today which added outrageous flavors to the whole meal. Suspense! Suspense! 😀 Read on to know more 😉

One-pot nutritious recipes that serve as a complete meal are such handy ones, right guys?

We here at Foodies Terminal too love such flavorsome one-pot meals like this Instant Pot Quinoa Khichdi & Daliya Khichdi recipe in Instant Pot.

These One-pot meals are so quick that you may rightfully call them an INSTANT recipe.

And today's Instant Pot Quinoa Pulao with vegetables & chicken is one such Instant recipe that guarantees spectacular result every single time!

It is extremely easy & super quick to fix in a hurry or no hurry but Lazy days 😀

And there are endless possibilities of treating this recipe & making it your very own.

Like you can add some extra protein like tofu, paneer, chicken & shrimp to this Vegetable Quinoa Pulao & personalize it according to your liking.

We did just that in today's recipe.

We flash marinated some chicken strips, shallow fried them & charred them slightly & threw them into the Instant Pot Quinoa Pilaf.

Result? A flavor-bomb.

But, the secret lies in the marination of the protein.

The more tasty the marination the more delicious your Quinoa Pulao will become.

Do you want to see exactly how we made it?
Just scroll down happily 😀

Watch the Video & if in hurry we've the step by step method too.

Quinoa Pulao Ingredients

You need a few basic ingredients to make this vegetable quinoa pulao in Instant Pot.

1. White Quinoa: Rinsed very well. This will remove the saponin from the outer skin of the quinoa & it wont taste bitter at all! We here at Foodies Terminal also love to slightly dry roast the Quinoa before rinsing it. This boosts the flavors so much.
2. White onion: I would recommend to use either white or sweet yellow onion here. Using red onion will add a lot of pungency to the recipe. We just don't want that to happen here.
3. Veggies: We added Cubed carrots, bell peppers, green peas. You can also add green beans, cauliflower, sweet potato.
4. Protein: We added flash marinated, shallow fried chicken strips. We prepared a special marinade for the chicken which is insanely easy. You can also sub the chicken with tofu, paneer or shrimps. Or you can totally omit this step if you are a vegetarian or vegan.
5. Spices: Turmeric powder & garam masala powder.
6. For Tempering: Whole cumin seeds.
7. Extras: Golden Raisins. They plump up and add a subtle sweetness & a tad bit of sourness to the Chicken Quinoa Pilaf. Do not omit these. If you want you may also add chopped almonds or cashew nuts for some added crunch. Today's recipe is however, nut free. And yes, I forgot to add the raisins in the Ingredients pic 😀 But, you'll find them in the process shots as well as the video.
8. Some kind of fat: We cooked today's Instant Pot Quinoa Pulao with Olive oil. But, you may also use avocado oil, canola oil, ghee for making it.

6 Tips to make the Best Instant Pot Quinoa Pulao

1. Rinse the Quinoa: And do it very well under running tap water. This will help to wash off the saponin (outer coating of the Quinoa) & remove any bitterness from the white quinoa. For more quinoa facts read the Warm Quinoa salad with kale, chicken & veggies from Foodies Terminal.
2. Same size & shape veggies work wonders: Cut the veggies in the same size & shape. This will ensure a uniform cooking time.
3. Do not skip the garam masala powder: This is the magic spice for today's recipe and packs such awesome flavors. White Quinoa recipes tastes terrific with the use of garam masala powder.
4. Add warm water or stock (veggie or chicken): Warm up the liquid in the micro wave oven & pour it in the Instant Pot. This will help build the pressure quickly & hence, it will start pressure cooking fast. In one word, you'll save time 😉
5. The 10 minute rule: Do not serve the Instant Pot Quinoa Pilaf instantly after opening the pot. Fluff the cooked Quinoa Pilaf with a fork & wait for 10 mins before serving it. The white grains will soak up all the excess moisture & they will become so light & so fluffy. They won't be mushy, limp & sad. Follow this tip & serve a shinning happy plateful Chicken Quinoa Pulao to your guests. You can thank me later for this tip 😀
6. Pan fried protein is the way to go: If you plan to add some sort of protein (chicken, shrimp, paneer or tofu) just like we did, you must flash marinate the protein first & than shallow fry it on a skillet. Add this flavorsome protein to the Vegetable Quinoa Pulao & mix for best flavors.

Pro Tip: For better results do not pressure cook the Quinoa Pilaf with the protein (chicken, shrimp, tofu or paneer). Instead pan roast the protein first & than add it to the cooked pilaf. This will give the best flavors to your Instant Pot Quinoa Pulao.

How long can you store Quinoa Pulao?

You can store Quinoa Pulao for 5 days in the refrigerator. Store it in an air tight container for better results.

Can you freeze Instant Pot Quinoa Pilaf?

Yes, you can!

Put the Instant Pot Quinoa Pilaf in individual freezer safe bags & pop them in the freezer for 1 month.

Once, you thaw & reheat the Vegetable Quinoa Pulao the veggies will slightly become little soft. There's no way to prevent this from happening.

Pro Tip: While re-heating the freezer Quinoa Pulao sprinkle it water & than heat it in the micro wave oven or on the stop top. This little tip will save your Quinoa from over-drying.

Serving Ideas

You don't need a bunch of creative ideas to serve a one-pot simple Pilaf which is a filling, delicious & wholesome meal all by itself.

Or do you?

In that case, I would not mind a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice & a sporadic throw of fresh, finely chopped cilantro.

If you are still not satisfied , do add your favorite Indian pickle on the plate & give yourself an extraordinary Quinoa treat. Happy Eating! 😉

Love Instant Pot Recipes? Check the entire INSTANT POT RECIPE collection from FOODIES TERMINAL.

How to make Quinoa Pulao in Instant Pot?

Steps in words below pictures

Love Quinoa? Check these easy Quinoa Recipes from Foodies Terminal.

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