Red Curry Quinoa Fried Rice made in the Instant Pot! Vegan, packed with veggies, wholesome, the dish gets it's flavor from curry paste and coconut milk.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 25 minutes
  • Total time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Thai

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa (185 grams, I used white quinoa)
  • 1 cup coconut milk (8 oz)
  • 1/2 cup water (4 oz)
  • 1.5 tablespoons oil (22 ml, vegetable oil or avocado oil)
  • 3-4 large garlic cloves (chopped)
  • 1 inch ginger (chopped)
  • 1 medium yellow onion (chopped)
  • 1 large carrot (cut into rounds)
  • 1 large red pepper (chopped into 1/2 inch)
  • 1 cup broccoli florets (small florets)
  • 1/4 cup green peas (I use frozen)
  • 2 tablespoons red curry paste (or use more to taste)
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce (10 ml)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/4 cup thai basil (chopped)
  • 2-3 stalks green onion (chopped)
  • 1 small lime (juice of)

Method

  1. Rinse quinoa in a strainer for 2 minutes, this helps in removing the bitterness. Transfer rinsed quinoa to the inner steel pot of your instant pot. Add 1 cup coconut milk and 1/2 cup water and stir. Close the lid and press the manual or pressure cook button. Cook on high pressure for 2 minutes with the pressure valve in the sealing position. Let the pressure release naturally.
  2. Open the lid, and fluff the quinoa with a fork. Transfer the quinoa to a bowl. Wipe the steel pot of your instant pot and then place it back in the IP. Press the saute button.
  3. Once it displays hot, add the oil and then add the chopped garlic, ginger and onion. Cook for 2 minutes until the onions soften.
  4. Then add the veggies- carrots, red pepper, broccoli florets and frozen peas. Cook for around 3 minutes, stirring often until veggies soften a bit.
  5. Then add the curry paste and the soy sauce. Mix everything well. Also add the salt and mix well.
  6. Now, add the cooked quinoa back into the pot. Stir well until all the quinoa is well combined.
  7. Unplug the Instant Pot, and add the chopped Thai basil and green onion. Add in lime juice.
  8. Serve Red Curry Quinoa Fried Rice with a side of hot sauce.

Stove-top Instructions

  1. Cook quinoa on stove-top according to instructions on the package. Usually it is 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups liquid. For this recipe, use 1 cup coconut milk and 1 cup water to cook the quinoa (you can even do 1.5 cups coconut milk and 1/2 cup water for an even intense coconut flavor). Fluff with a fork and set aside. Follow the remaining steps as it is in a pan on stove-top on medium heat.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.