Say hello to your stereotypical trying-to-be-healthy Monday recipe.
Like the many Mondays that have come before, I attempt to lure you in with the promise of half-assed vegetables and a balanced meal. Only to finish you off with a bowl full of butter and a glass of tequila on Friday.
I guess it doesn’t have to be Monday… but it is. And the truth is that even though I like quinoa, one of my main goals in life is seeing how many unhealthy things that I love can be stuffed inside the same bowl so I can dub the entire thing health food. Bacon grease, cheese and brown butter breadcrumbs? Instantly because healthy with the added quarter cup of quinoa. Yessss.
I love how that works.
And I want to tell you that this is another one of my cop-out Thai recipes because it sort of is, but I just love that sauce soooooo much. It first appeared on my thai chicken wings and then later on this thai crunch chicken salad, and it’s not a stretch to say I whip it up nearly once a week just to see what else I can thai-afy. Thai nachos? Check. Thai burgers? Check. Thai noodles? Check. Thai sauce on a spoon? Check.
Don’t worry. Thai cookies are not next. You may have thought otherwise with how much I talk about this. I know. I’ll just shut up.
Thai Chicken Quinoa Bowl
Yield: serves 2
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
1 chicken breast, cooked and shredded
1/3 cup chopped carrots
1/3 cup shelled edamame
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro
sauce
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon canned coconut milk
1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon creamy peanut butter (it mixes in easier if it's melted, FYI)
1 garlic clove
1/2 lime, juice
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
Directions:
Prepare quinoa according to directions, which will most likely call for 1 cup of liquid. I prefer to use low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock, so if you have that, use it!
While quinoa is cooking, combine all of the sauce ingredients together in a bowl and whisk well to combine. Once quinoa has absorbed all of the liquid, stir in the sauce and toss well to coat. Add in chicken, carrots, edamame and green onions, stirring to combine. Taste and season with a little salt and pepper if needed. Toss in half of the peanuts and cilantro, then serve in a large bowl, topped with remaining peanuts and cilantro. I like to serve this with a salad, soup or even a little sandwich!
So many veggies for me!
I’m Jessica and this is where I share my stuff. You will find a balance of healthy recipes, comfort food and indulgent desserts.
After the crud I ate this weekend, I think a healthy quinoa dish is just what i need!
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Oh how convenient Jessica – I had leftover shredded chicken and just bought quinoa at the store. :) Oh and we’re going out for Thai tonight. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have thai quinoa tomorrow night. I LOVE THAI! I don’t even attempt to be healthy on Mondays. I posted peanut butter and chocolate explosion cookies like it’s nobody’s business today.
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Can’t go wrong with chicken and quinoa – healthy but, more importantly in the long run, DELICIOUS.
Since you mentioned Thai cookies, I think you SHOULD try to make some :D I looked up this recipe, haha: http://brokeassgourmet.com/articles/pad-thai-cookies-with-kaffir-lime-basil-icing
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soo trying this out! looks delish
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I love all of your Thai chicken recipes! Sounds delish!!!
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I LOVE it! What a big bowl of happiness!!! Yum!!
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So simple yet so delicious. Thanks for sharing!
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Oh yesyesyes please!! What are your thoughts on spontaneously jetting away to Thailand and eating our weight in Thai food? It sounds like you love it just as much as me! Totally going to make this, like, tonight!
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Loving the peanut butter addition – this sounds right up my alley!
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THIS LOOKS AMAZING– Pinning and making it ASAP! Thank you
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I love how bright and cheery and green and healthy this looks! And I dig the wooden spoon, mason jars and overall photo vibe!
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I like the method to your Monday madness :)
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we have a new food cart that is offering quinoa bowls like this, so yummy! love the sauce recipe here, could probably get a bit outta control with that lol.
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Does a batch of this sauce keep for a little while? I was thinking of whipping some up and putting it in a ketchup style squirt bottle.
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Jessica — February 25th, 2013 @ 10:56 am
it definitely does, but i would make it like some of the recipes i linked above – combine ingredients, bring to a boil, let cool completely, then store in the fridge.
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first, thank you for bringing this super easy thai sauce recipe into my life.
second, I just cooked with quinoa for the first time last week and I love it! I made a Quinoa Fried Rice and it was super healthy and totally delish!
So now that quinoa is my new thang anddd I have a ton of it lying around at home, this was the perfect recipe to start off my Monday :)
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Sounds fabulous to me. I could use some healthy this morning.. Apparently I have a cold?
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This looks like the perfect lunch! So light and fresh. I wish I had a big bowl to bring with me to school today.
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Ok, this is definitely being made. Love how you used quinoa, instead of rice too. This is exactly the type of food I crave constantly, so it is perfect for me.
Also, anything topped with peanuts and cilantro is an automatic winner!
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Wow, this looks delicious, I have been looking for some ways to pep up my quinoa I am a little tired of my riff on the quinoa Greek said style thing. Thanks!
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Yup. I totally want this… for my breakfast!
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Can’t blame you for wanting to pour this sauce all over everything… except maybe cookies.
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Do you think I could double (or triple) the sauce and throw it in the crockpot on low with some chicken? Or is it not crockpot-friendly because of the peanut butter?
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Jessica — February 25th, 2013 @ 10:55 am
hmm that’s really the one thing i haven’t tried with this sauce – the slow cooker. i’m honestly not sure. i think it’s too thick and sticky, but then again… so is BBQ sauce? so it may work!
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Making this week!!
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This sauce does sound really amazing! Bookmarking this
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This looks delicious! I am a huge fan of quinoa right now. Last week I made quinoa & sweet potato salad with ginger sesame dressing. Definitely pinning this recipe to make :)
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This looks so good, and I like how you used ingredients I could normally find in my pantry. I wish I hadn’t already meal planned for the week, it’s definitely getting “favourited” though!
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I love this sauce of yours! I made some last week and kept putting it in random things, like quinoa. Thanks!
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Gonna have to get on this sauce asap. Love quinoa bowl recipes like this. So easy to throw together, but still incredibly flavorful!
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Oh my gracious, this looks amazing!!!!! (I mean, all of your recipes look amazing, but ya know) Thai and quinoa sounds so good! Definitely going to be trying this out in the near future! Yum yum.
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That sauce is going to be the death of me. I all but shower in it these days!
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I was craving some good old thai food, and this will fit right in with my bf’s and I new eating style!! Thanks for posting, I know what’s for dinner tonight :)
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I want to shove my face in that bowl right now. for breakfast.
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But, but, but, have you had A Stool at the Counter’s Thai peanut granola?! It’s so good!
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Yummy! If it has “Thai” and “chicken” in the title, it’s pretty much a lock that I will try it. Thanks for another great recipe!
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This looks amaaaaaaaaazing
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Love how colorful it is- looks yummy!
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I have never made anything like this before. I think you’ve just convinced that I need to try! This sounds delicious.
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This looks delicious! Please continue to thai-afy anything and everything. I never get tired of Thai cuisine!
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I LOVE Thai style quinoa!! Definitely got me to eat more quinoa instead of rice because I can enjoy Thai food without all the carbs/cals! I absolutely love that this has edamame in it. And the colors are SO pretty!
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just Pinned this an hour ago and already had 10 re-pins and likes!
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If I had to be healthy, mondays would be the day I would do it. Starting off the week right and all of that jazz. Quinoa is my new favorite grain and this recipe looks scrumptious!
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I’m looking for an Asian slaw dressing – do you think this sauce recipe would work? :) I cannot wait to try it with your quinoa recipe!
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I love this combo. Thai food is a favorite anyway but adding chicken and quinoa just ups the yum factor.
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After the Pinterest Themed Wine & Cheese dinner I went to on Saturday night, I’m in desperate need of a healthier meal. This looks perfect!
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YUM. I need to make this soon.
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Oh my goodness, this looks AMAZING. Can’t wait to try it out!
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I haven’t tried anything quinoa yet, but this may have to be my first go at it. This recipe looks so simple! Thanks for sharing!
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Amazing what you did to the quinoa! And that sauce sounds so good too!
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Your Thai recipes got me hooked on your blog. Looks like another keeper!
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We used to having a standing “Thai Tuesday” situation going on in our house, but it’s fallen by the wayside…no longer! This is like a healthy-bacon-filled call to arms.
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