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Overhead shot of a quinoa and edamame bowl with diced avocado, cherry tomatoes, and sesame seeds on a wooden table

High-Protein Edamame and Quinoa Bowl with Sesame Dressing

Fluffy quinoa and tender edamame get tossed with crisp veggies and a sesame-lime dressing for a filling, high-protein bowl that's ready in 30 minutes and holds up well for meal prep.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Calories: 476

Ingredients
  

Quinoa and Edamame
  • 280 g quinoa, rinsed (1.5 cups); dry
  • 600 ml water or vegetable broth (2.5 cups)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 300 g shelled edamame, frozen (2 cups)
Vegetables
  • 1 cucumber, diced medium (about 150 g)
  • 150 g cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced small (about 100 g)
  • 1 avocado, diced medium; add just before serving
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds toast for extra flavor, optional
Sesame-Lime Dressing
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari use tamari for gluten-free
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp honey swap maple syrup for vegan
  • 1 tbsp lime juice fresh
  • 1 clove garlic, grated
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated

Method
 

Cook the Base
  1. Combine the rinsed quinoa, water or broth, and salt in a 2-quart / 1.9 L saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until the water is absorbed and the quinoa looks fluffy with visible little rings around each grain.
  2. Remove from heat and let the quinoa sit covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Set aside to cool slightly.
  3. Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a 1-quart / 1 L saucepan. Add the frozen edamame and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until tender but still bright green. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop it from overcooking.
Make the Dressing
  1. Whisk the soy sauce, sesame oil, olive oil, rice vinegar, honey, lime juice, garlic, and ginger together in a mixing bowl until the dressing looks smooth and slightly thickened.
Assemble the Bowls
  1. Dice the cucumber and bell pepper, halve the cherry tomatoes, and dice the avocado. Divide the quinoa evenly among 4 bowls.
  2. Top each bowl with edamame, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, and avocado.
  3. Drizzle the dressing over each bowl and scatter with sliced scallions and sesame seeds (toast the seeds in a dry skillet for 2 minutes first if you want more crunch).
  4. Serve right away, or pack into containers for meal prep, keeping the dressing and avocado separate until you're ready to eat.

Notes

  • Rinse quinoa well before cooking to remove its bitter coating.
  • Shock edamame in cold water right after boiling to keep it bright green.
  • Keep avocado and dressing separate until serving if meal prepping.
  • Use tamari instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free version.