This recipe for One Pot Beans & Quinoa offers a quick, healthy, and vegetarian meal that delivers a complete protein, slow-release carbohydrates, and powerful micronutrients. It’s a versatile dish that can be easily customized with different spices, vegetables, or added proteins, and it’s excellent for meal prepping.
Here is the breakdown of the recipe, method, and tips for the best result:
Ingredient List
| Ingredient | Quantity | Note |
| Black Beans | 15 ounces (approx. 1 ½ cups) | Rinsed and drained |
| Kidney Beans | 15 ounces (approx. 1 ½ cups) | Rinsed and drained |
| Corn | 15 ounces (approx. 1 cup) | |
| Olive Oil | 2 tablespoons | |
| Carrots | 1 cup | Diced |
| Quinoa | 1 cup | Rinsed |
| Onion | 1 | Diced |
| Garlic | 2 cloves | Minced |
| Vegetable Broth | 1 ½ cups | |
| Salt | 1 teaspoon | |
| Black Pepper | ½ teaspoon | |
| Smoked Paprika | ½ teaspoon | |
| Optional Toppings | Hot sauce, avocado, coriander (cilantro) |
Method of Making
- Rinsing and soaking of quinoa for 30 minutes.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for about 3 minutes.
- Add Vegetables: Add the diced carrots and sauté for 2 minutes, followed by the minced garlic, which you’ll sauté for 1 minute.
- Season: Stir in the salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika until the vegetables are coated.
- Add Broth and Dry Ingredients: Pour in the vegetable broth. Then, add the rinsed quinoa, black beans, kidney beans, and corn.
- Cook: Bring the entire mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and let it simmer for 15 minutes.
- Rest and Fluff: After 15 minutes, turn off the heat. Do not remove the lid; let the pot sit, covered, for an additional 5 minutes. This resting period allows the quinoa to fully absorb the liquid and become fluffy. Finally, remove the lid and fluff the mixture with a fork.
- Serve: Serve the beans and quinoa hot, with optional toppings like hot sauce or avocado.
Tips for the Best Result
The most important step for perfectly cooked, fluffy quinoa is to let the dish rest, covered, for 5 minutes after turning off the heat.
