Hey guys! Do you understand what I mean when I say that dinner isn’t complete without a shrimp quinoa bowl? The shrimp quinoa bowl is the perfect easy meal for weeknight dinners.
It’s filled with whole-grain quinoa, blackened shrimp, and toppings of choice. And the best part is this healthy dinner recipe is packed with flavor and is a great option for everyone in your family. You don’t believe that to be true? Don’t worry, guys! Trust me it is such a tasty recipe. Let’s get started.
Page Contents
What is Shrimp Quinoa Bowl?
So, do you know what it is? If this is your first time cooking grain bowls, you’re in for a treat! Most quinoa recipes are bland and lack flavor, but this recipe is packed with fresh ingredients, seasonings, and herbs. It’s perfect for serving on busy nights when you don’t have a lot of time to cook a big meal.
All you need to do is cook the quinoa, saute the shrimp, and add your favorite toppings. Don’t forget to drizzle this delicious meal with cilantro lime crema. It’s the perfect addition to these quinoa power bowls. And once you give it a try, I promise you won’t be able to stop.
How to Pick the Best Shrimp?
Shrimp is the star of this dish, so you want to make sure you get the best quality you can find.
Either fresh shrimp or frozen shrimp will work wonderfully as long as it’s good quality.
If you buy fresh shrimp from the seafood department at the grocery store, ask when they were caught. This needs to be within 24 hours. If not, go with frozen shrimp instead.
Frozen shrimp is a great option since they’re flash-frozen when they’re still fresh. You can buy a bag in the frozen seafood department of the grocery store.
You can choose to buy peeled or unpeeled shrimp depending on if you want to take the extra time to devein and peel them.
To peel the shrimp, remove the shell and use a knife to scrape off the dark vein along the inside of the shrimp. Rinse them free of any lingering shells or veins and place them in a large bowl. I have also written an article on Fluffy and Flavorful: The Ultimate Quinoa Pancakes Recipe.
Shrimp Quinoa Bowl Fixings
- Dry quinoa
- Fresh lime juice
- Fresh cilantro
- Large shrimp
- Chili powder
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Ground cumin
- Dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper
- Olive oil
How to Make Shrimp Quinoa Bowl?
Let’s get right to it. Cook the quinoa in broth or water and then remove it from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes, covered. Remove the lid and fluff with a fork. Stir in lime juice, cilantro, and season with salt and pepper.
In a bowl, toss the shrimp with spices and oil. Cook the shrimp for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until fully cooked. Serve cooked shrimp over quinoa with toppings of your choice.
Shrimp Quinoa Bowl Variations
Here’s the deal. Here are some tasty options to make this shrimp quinoa bowl your own. Sounds good, right?
Meat: chicken, tofu, scallops, salmon
Grains: farro, barley, brown rice, wheat berries, black or red quinoa
Fresh Veggies: red peppers, red onion, asparagus, mushrooms, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, romaine lettuce, corn, green onions
Cheese: cheddar cheese, Colby jack cheese
Herbs: parsley, oregano, cilantro
Seasonings: curry powder, red pepper flakes
Recipe Tips
Don’t overcook! Don’t overcook the shrimp, or it will be tough. Cook time will depend on the size of the shrimp. I used large shrimp for this recipe which requires about 2-3 minutes per side.
Too much liquid? If the quinoa is cooked, but there’s still too much water in the pan, you can pour out any extra. Put the pan back on the stove for a minute to allow the rest of the water to evaporate.
Prep ahead. This is a great recipe to make ahead. Toss thawed shrimp with spices and oil in the morning so it’s ready to cook later in the day. Cook the quinoa the day before, reheat, and just before serving stir in lime juice and cilantro. You can read more about Quinoa Burgers: The Amazing Alternative to Traditional Burgers.
How to Serve?
Top this healthy meal with salsa, avocados, guacamole, sour cream, black beans, or lime wedges. You can also drizzle it with sauce, creamy dressing, or vinaigrette.
Storing Tips
Be careful! Refrigerate: Keep leftover shrimp and quinoa stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Gently reheat the shrimp until just warm enough, or eat them cold. You can heat the quinoa until warmed through in the microwave or eat it cold as well.
Freeze: If you’d like to make this dish in advance, you can freeze it and save it for later.
Place the shrimp in a single layer on a parchment-covered baking sheet and put it in the freezer for 15 minutes. Remove the shrimp and put them in a large freezer bag and back in the freezer.
Scoop the quinoa into a container with a lid and the freezer.
Be sure to label and date everything, so you know what you’ve saved later. Another on Easy Quinoa Instant Pot Recipes to Revolutionize Your Meals.
Shrimp Quinoa Bowl Health Benefits
Shrimp Quinoa Bowl May Promote Weight Loss
I will show you what I mean. Shrimp may be a great source of protein and vitamin D, without adding carbohydrates to your daily intake, so for people determined to lose weight, this simple form of seafood can be a popular option.
The possibly high levels of zinc are also beneficial since zinc is one way that can increase leptin levels in the body. Leptin is a hormone and is an integral part of the body’s regulation of fat storage, appetite, and overall energy use in the body.
By increasing the levels of leptin in the body, you can avoid common issues like overeating, inexplicable cravings for food after being “full”, and a similar problem for weight-conscious.
Shrimp Quinoa Bowl May Anti-Aging Properties
Sunlight is one of the major causes that promote skin aging. Without protection, even a few minutes of exposure to sunlight and UVA may lead to wrinkles, spots, or sunburn. By adding shrimp to their daily or weekly diet, people can greatly improve their chances of beautifying their skin and shedding years from time-worn faces.
It contains high levels of a certain carotenoid called astaxanthin, which is a powerful antioxidant that can greatly reduce the signs of aging in the skin related to UVA and sunlight.
Therefore, for individuals obsessed with spots and wrinkling skin, add a shrimp cocktail to your diet a few times a week to slow those inevitable effects.
May Lower the Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Studies suggest that shrimp may contain a heparin-like compound that may help in treating neovascular AMD. The astaxanthin found in shrimp might also relieve eye fatigue, especially for those who use computers for long durations in their personal or professional lives.
Shrimp Quinoa Bowl May Prevent Hair Loss
The minerals found in shrimp can also contribute to the health of our hair! A deficiency of zinc may cause hair loss. Zinc plays a key role in maintaining and creating new cells, including hair and skin cells, so for those who are beginning to lose their hair, or at least are seeing a decrease in hair growth, it can work against that embarrassing reality, keeping you looking younger for longer!
May Prevent Cardiovascular Disease
Fermented shrimp paste, which is a popular manipulation of the food, may contain a fibrinolytic enzyme that can be used for thrombolytic therapy.
Thrombolytic therapy is a way of breaking up dangerous blood clots within a person’s blood vessels. This enzyme found in shrimp paste can be a powerful tool against the dangers of cardiovascular disease, which afflicts so many people throughout the world.
Also, the possibly high levels of omega-3 fatty acid found in it eliminate damaging cholesterol in the bloodstream, which can further reduce the chance of heart attacks and strokes. You can get more from this video.
May Improve Bone Health
Protein and various vitamins, such as calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, which are probably found in high quantities in shrimp, can effectively aid in the fight against bone degeneration.
A deficiency in dietary proteins and vitamins can cause the deterioration of bone quality, bone mass, strength, and overall mass, which are the main symptoms of osteoporosis. Adding it to your daily or weekly regimen of food can slow the effects of aging bones to keep you stronger for longer.
May Improve Brain Health
Shrimp have high levels of iron, which is a key mineral component in the bonding process with oxygen in hemoglobin.
With additional iron in the system, increased oxygen flow can occur to the muscles, providing strength and endurance, while also increasing the oxygen flow to the brain, which is shown to improve comprehension, memory, and concentration.
Studies suggest that astaxanthin found in shrimp may help in improving memory performance, survival of brain cells, and reducing the risk of brain inflammatory diseases.
You Can Buy Best Selling Products
Conclusion
So in this blog post, I have shared with you a lot of things you can see above. Don’t forget to give me feedback in the comment section.
Indeed, you can set up the quinoa ahead and you can eat it during the following day’s cold without re-warming it.
Express no to medium to enormous estimated fish — like goldfish, cichlids, rainbowfish, and greater plecos. Additionally, little fish that are mostly meat eaters like to pursue shrimp, so be careful about adding betta fish, bantam cichlids, overshadow gouramis, and pea puffers.
Shrimp is extremely nutritious. It’s genuinely low in calories and gives a high measure of protein and solid fats, as well as various nutrients and minerals.