Lemony Quinoa
This lemony quinoa combines fluffy grains with crunchy pine nuts, crisp celery, red onion, and fresh parsley, brightened by lemon juice and gently spiced with cumin and cayenne. Serve it as a refreshing side dish or a light meal when you want something wholesome and satisfying.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook10 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Lemony Quinoa, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 58 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 14 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 90 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 78
- Heart Health
- 51
- Metabolic
- 40
- Digestive
- 39
- Inflammatory
- 37
- Performance
- 55
- General Wellness
- 1
Toast the pine nuts briefly in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, as they burn easily. Set aside to cool.
- 2
In a saucepan, combine the quinoa, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and cook until the quinoa is tender and the water has been absorbed, about 10 minutes. Cool slightly, then fluff with a fork.
- 3
Transfer the quinoa to a serving bowl and stir in the pine nuts, lemon juice, celery, onion, cayenne pepper, cumin, and parsley. Adjust the salt and pepper if needed before serving.
- 4
Transfer the quinoa to a serving bowl and stir in the pine nuts, lemon juice, celery, onion, cayenne pepper, cumin and parsley; adjust the salt and pepper if needed before serving.
- Calories 194.85 kcal Moderate 10%
- Protein 6.16 g Moderate 12%
- Carbohydrate 28.46 g 10%
- Total Fat 6.75 g Moderate 9%
- Saturated Fat 0.35 g Low Source 2%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 0.03 mg Low Source 0%
- Sodium 26.05 mg Low Source 1%
- Dietary Fiber 4.93 g Moderate 18%
- Total Sugars 4.01 g --
- Added Sugars 3.33 g Moderate 7%
- Calcium 40.97 mg Low Source 3%
- Iron 2.66 mg Moderate 15%
- Potassium 155.24 mg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin A 45.11 mcg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin C 13.77 mg Moderate 15%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Celery
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Lemony Quinoa is made with 10 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 25 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Cayenne Pepper, Celery, Fresh Parsley, and Ground Cumin. Each serving provides about 194.85 kcal.
Recipe Questions
- What is Lemony Quinoa made of?
- The main ingredients are Cayenne Pepper, Celery, Fresh Parsley, Ground Cumin, Lemon Juice. The full list of 10 is above.
- How long does it take to make Lemony Quinoa?
- About 25 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 10 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 194.85 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Lemony Quinoa easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 10 ingredients and 4 steps.
- Is Lemony Quinoa healthy?
- Lemony Quinoa has an easyChef Pro health score of 51/100. Per serving, it provides 194.85 calories and 6.16 g of protein, or 12% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: added sugars at 3.33 g (7% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Tree Nuts, Celery and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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