Garlic Shrimp and Quinoa

Healthy doesn’t have to be flavorless and boring! This garlic shrimp and quinoa, along with being a quick and tasty meal, is filled with nutrition.

While quinoa is usually considered to be a whole grain, it is actually a seed. It’s a complete protein source, rich in dietary fibers, low in fat and gluten free. It also contains iron, calcium, folic acid, magnesium, manganese and copper.

Don’t skip the rinse!!! Quinoa has a bitter coating which needs to be rinsed away before use. Place it in a fine-meshed strainer and run cold water while gently rubbing the seeds together in your hands.

This garlic shrimp and quinoa recipe is easy and it only takes 35 minutes to prepare. Start by cooking the quinoa with garlic, onion and chili powder then add the broth. While the quinoa is cooking, cook the shrimp then mix the quinoa and shrimp together, drizzled with lemon juice and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

It’s a quick dish to whip up on a weeknight as a nice light dinner but impressive enough to serve when you have guests. You can also prepare it the night before and have lunch ready for the next day. You will have a protein-packed, healthy and – most importantly – delicious lunch.

Serve the garlic shrimp and quinoa with a salad and enjoy a flavorful, low-calorie meal.

5.0 from 5 reviews

Spicy Garlic Shrimp and Quinoa

Author: As Easy As Apple Pie

Nutrition Information

• Serves: 4

• Serving size: 242 g
• Calories: 267

• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 409 mg
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 15 g
• Cholesterol: 71 mg

Recipe type: Main dish

Prep time:  10 mins

Cook time:  25 mins

Total time:  35 mins

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Ingredients

• For the quinoa:
• ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• ½ onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• 190 grams (1 cup) uncooked quinoa
• salt and pepper
• 500 ml (2 cups) vegetable broth (I used my vegetable stock powder)
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
• For the shrimp:
• ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 225 grams (1/2 lb) raw shrimp, tail-on
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• ¼ teaspoon chili powder
• salt and pepper
• You will also need:
• fresh parsley. finely chopped
• the juice of half lemon

Instructions

1. In a fine-meshed strainer, rinse the quinoa under cold running water.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes or until the onion softens slightly.
3. Add the quinoa and ½ teaspoon of chili powder. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. 
5. Sautee for 1 minute then add the broth.
6. Bring to a boil uncovered. When it starts to boil, reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is cooked and tender. Remove from heat, add the parsley and mix well.
7. While quinoa is cooking, cook the shrimp.
8. Heat ½ tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. When the pan is hot, add the shrimp and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon of chili powder. Season with salt and pepper and sautee until no longer translucent.
9. 
10. Add the garlic and cook until is very fragrant.
11. Mix the quinoa and shrimp together, drizzle with lemon juice and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley. Serve the spicy garlic shrimp and quinoa immediately, while still hot.
12. Enjoy!