Toasted Quinoa Recipe for a Crunchy Salad Topping

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Level up your salad bowls and Buddha bowls with crispy crunchy quinoa. Toasting quinoa takes only 15 minutes and brings out its nutty flavor, making a great flavorful and crunchy topping.

Toasted quinoa on a blue plate.

If you love the taste of nutty quinoa, you’ll love it toasted. This crispy quinoa recipe takes regular cooked quinoa and levels it up. Toasting quinoa by baking it in the oven intensifies its flavor, and with the added seasoning it’s a crispy and flavorful delight.

​I love this crunchy toasted quinoa topping on top of salads or bowls but my favorite thing is adding it with cooked quinoa to my broccoli salad because you get such a great contrast in textures.

Sprinkling toasted quinoa onto roasted vegetables or rice bowls is a great way to get extra protein and nutrients into your day.

Ingredients

This is a brief overview of the ingredients used in this recipe followed by substitution ideas. Read the recipe card for measurements.

Ingredients on a white marble counter labeled as cooked quinoa, salt, olive oil, and za'atar seasoning.
  • cooked quinoa: start with cooked quinoa. Use my easy Instant Pot quinoa recipe or the stovetop method. I use white quinoa in this recipe.
  • olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil for flavor, crisping, and for the seasoning to stick to.
  • salt: I use kosher salt. 
  • seasoning: I love za’atar and it’s fantastic when roasting ingredients. Use your favorite seasoning for different results.

Substitutions

  • olive oil: use a neutral oil instead like canola oil or sunflower oil. Something like coconut oil would add its own flavor to the toasted quinoa but you can try it if you like the flavor. Use melted liquid coconut oil.
  • seasoning: try other seasoning blends like Italian seasoning or Greek seasoning.
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Benefits of quinoa

Quinoa is a complete protein and contains all 9 essential amino acids that our bodies can’t make.

Toasted quinoa on a blue plate.

Instructions

Prep Tips

Make sure the quinoa is at room temperature to start. Hot quinoa will soak up the olive oil.

Quinoa is dumped onto a baking sheet.
  1. Add a cup of quinoa to a baking sheet.
Oil is poured onto a baking sheet on top of quinoa.
  1. Drizzle the oil over the top of the quinoa.
Salt is sprinkled onto quinoa on a baking sheet.
  1. Add the salt.
Quinoa is stirred with a pink spatula on a baking sheet.
  1. Mix well.
Quinoa is spread out on a baking sheet.
  1. Flatten the quinoa into a single layer.
Spices are sprinkled onto toasted quinoa on a baking sheet.
  1. Bake for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and add the za’atar seasoning and mix well.
  1. Return to the oven and bake for another 2-4 minutes, watching the quinoa carefully.
Toasted quinoa on a blue plate.

Tips for making crunchy toasted quinoa

  • When cooking quinoa make sure to rinse it well under cold water, using a fine mesh strainer. Quinoa has a natural coating called saponin that protects it while it grows but has a bitter taste. Rinsing it eliminates the bitterness.
  • Watch the quinoa carefully while it’s cooking, especially close to the end.
  • Customize the quinoa with your favorite seasoning mix.
  • Make sure your quinoa is at room temperature before roasting so the olive coats it nicely, letting it get really crispy.

What to use toasted quinoa for

You can use toasted quinoa wherever you want a crunchy topping. Use it on salads, grain bowls, and roasted vegetables. Try toasted quinoa in broccoli quinoa salad for quinoa lovers (coming soon). My favorite thing is to blend it into a salad for an added crispy texture.

Storage

Store the toasted quinoa in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-6 days.

Toasted quinoa on a blue plate.

FAQ

What does toasting quinoa do?

Toasting quinoa turns the texture from soft to crispy and intensifies it’s nutty flavor.

Toasted quinoa on a blue plate.

Toasted Quinoa

Easy toasted quinoa is a great crunchy topping for salad and other bowls.
Servings 8
Jacqueline
special diet
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prep time2 minutes
cook time15 minutes
total time17 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 1 cup cooked quinoa
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon za’atar seasoning

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400℉ (200℃).
  • Place the quinoa on a baking sheet and add the oil and salt. Mix well.
  • Spread into a flat single layer.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden.
  • Add seasoning, mix, and return to the oven for 2-3 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool before storing in the fridge.

Notes

To make quinoa in a pressure cooker, add 1 cup of rinsed quinoa to the inner pot along with 1 1/2 cups of broth. Set on high pressure for 1 minute. Allow for natural pressure release for 5 minutes, and then perform a quick pressure release. Fluff the quinoa with a fork and allow it to cool before using it in this recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 45kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 43mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 4IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.5mg
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Toasted quinoa on a blue plate with the title 'How to toast quinoa'.

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Jacqueline

Hi, I’m Jacqueline. I write this website and create plant-based recipes that are easy to make and taste great. I love cooking and making elaborate bowl recipes, gardening and taking care of my little cabin, and I’m happy reading or watching a new show on Netflix.

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