Quinoa with Basil Pesto
Quinoa with Basil Pesto brings fluffy, broth-infused grains coated in fragrant basil pesto, creating a fresh, herby bite with a gentle richness. Juicy diced tomato adds brightness and a touch of acidity to balance the savory base. Serve this as a vibrant side or light lunch alongside grilled chicken or fish, or as a satisfying vegetarian bowl topper.
- Prep5 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Quinoa with Basil Pesto, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 56 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 2 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 90 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 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.
- 35
- Heart Health
- 69
- Metabolic
- 29
- Digestive
- 35
- Inflammatory
- 39
- Performance
- 44
- General Wellness
- 1
In a saucepan, bring the quinoa and chicken broth to a boil; cover, lower the heat to low, and simmer until the liquid is fully absorbed, about 15 minutes.
- 2
Take the saucepan off the heat; stir the pesto into the quinoa.
- 3
Gently fold the tomato into the mixture.
- 4
Season with salt and pepper.
- Calories 258.82 kcal Moderate 13%
- Protein 11.28 g Good Source 23%
- Carbohydrate 34.87 g 13%
- Total Fat 7.88 g Moderate 10%
- Saturated Fat 0.96 g Low Source 5%
- Trans Fat 0.02 g High --
- Cholesterol 9.33 mg Low Source 3%
- Sodium 531.05 mg High 23%
- Dietary Fiber 3.76 g Moderate 13%
- Total Sugars 0.75 g --
- Added Sugars 0.08 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 42.12 mg Low Source 3%
- Iron 2.49 mg Moderate 14%
- Potassium 100.62 mg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin A 18.5 mcg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin C 0.79 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tomatoes 🍅
About This Recipe
Quinoa with Basil Pesto is made with 5 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 25 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Basil Pesto, Chicken Broth, Quinoa, and Salt & Pepper. Each serving provides about 258.82 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Quinoa with Basil Pesto made of?
- The main ingredients are Basil Pesto, Chicken Broth, Quinoa, Salt & Pepper, Whole Peeled Tomato. The full list of 5 is above.
- How long does it take to make Quinoa with Basil Pesto?
- About 25 mins in total: 5 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 258.82 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Quinoa with Basil Pesto easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 5 ingredients and 4 steps.
- Is Quinoa with Basil Pesto healthy?
- Quinoa with Basil Pesto has an easyChef Pro health score of 47/100. Per serving, it provides 258.82 calories and 11.28 g of protein, or 23% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 531.05 mg (23% of the Daily Value). It contains Tomatoes, 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.
Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.
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