Coconut Quinoa Curry Recipe | Made In The Slow Cooker - Simply Quinoa (2024)

The best quinoa curry recipe! This healthy slow cooker coconut curry is one of the easiest meals ever. Just toss everything into the slow cooker and done!

Coconut Quinoa Curry Recipe | Made In The Slow Cooker - Simply Quinoa (1)

this recipe

Have to work late and don't have time to make dinner?Slow cooker to the rescue. Don't feel like spending hours at the stove carefully watching your pot to make sure it doesn't boil over or burn? Slow cooker to the rescue. Want to make the easiest, most straightforward dinner ever? Slow cooker to the rescue.

Sensing a theme here? Yep, slow cookers can be pretty amazing. Time-saving, easy and minimal prep (and clean up for that matter).

In my house though, they're a totally underutilized tool. I think this is only the fourth or fifth time all winter that I've used my slow cooker and I'm not kidding, every time I pull it out, I say/yell to myself, “WHY DON'T I USETHIS MORE OFTEN!?”

Coconut Quinoa Curry Recipe | Made In The Slow Cooker - Simply Quinoa (2)

What You Need to Make This Curry Recipe

First, let's talk about the ingredients! You might read the comments before you make this recipe and see that quite a few people are asking, “where's the curry powder!?” This recipe doesn't actually use curry powder – it's more inspired by Thai/Asian Pacific curries that use things like ginger and soy for their flavor.

For our base we've got:

  • Coconut milk: I like to do full fat because it has more flavor, but if you want to cut back on calories, light will also work. I don't think another milk will work here and still give you the same creamy texture and rich flavor.
  • Diced tomatoes: the tomatoes add a hint of juiciness, but also a mild sweetness.
  • Fresh ginger: adds zing and brightness
  • Fresh turmeric: this has a much brighter flavor than ground and I think is exceptional in this recipe. You could swap it with dried, but use about 1/3 of the amount.
  • Garlic: because garlic is just my favorite flavor agent of all time!
  • Miso + tamari: for a bit of salt and umami flavor.

And then for our mix-ins we've got:

  • Sweet potato
  • Broccoli
  • Onion
  • Chickpeas
  • Quinoa

Those can be swapped in and out if you'd like. More on that later in the post!

Coconut Quinoa Curry Recipe | Made In The Slow Cooker - Simply Quinoa (3)

How to Make Coconut Quinoa Curry

I will say, this curry is kind of a middle-of-the-road type curry. Not that it tastes basic or anything, but the flavor profiles don't swing in any cuisine's direction. I almost feel like it has some influences from all over the place and yet it totally works.

STEP ONE

We start with sweet potato, broccoli, onion and chickpeas as the bulk of the curry. You could feel free to swap in any other veggies you want – white potatoes, butternut squash, cauliflower, eggplant, etc. – just as long as the proportions stay the same, you should be all set.

STEP TWO

From there the sauce of the curry is just diced tomatoes and coconut milk. The tomatoes add a nice level of sweetness while the coconut milk makes it thick and creamy. Plus…super simple.

STEP THREE

Next,we have the quinoa and then we end it with our flavor bombs.

I'm not sure why I called them flavor bombs, but that's kind of how I see them. If the dish didn't have them, it would be flat and boring. Add them in and it's like an explosion of flavor in your mouth.

The flavor bombs in this curry are fresh garlic, fresh ginger, fresh turmeric, tamari, miso and chili flakes.Each ingredient bringsits own uniqueness to the table, but they still all work in harmony to make this amazingly aromatic and flavorful dish.

STEP FOUR

Once you've got everything in there, it's as simple as turning on your cooker and walking away. 3 – 4 hours later, you come back to a thick, creamy coconut curry that will comfortyou from head to toe. No moreneed for takeout in this house, I've finally foundmy most perfect curry!

Coconut Quinoa Curry Recipe | Made In The Slow Cooker - Simply Quinoa (4)

Swaps to Try in our Coconut Quinoa Curry

Just in case you want to make some changes to this recipe, know that all the mix-ins can be subbed. I would just follow the same proportions so that you're sure the cooking time and texture stay the same.

And if you can, swap like ingredients for like ingredients. For example, sweet potato. Swap that with potato, butternut squash or another starchy vegetable. The same goes for the broccoli – cauliflower would be a natural swap.

If you have any specific questions for substitutions, let me know down below!

How to Store Coconut Curry

Want to make this for meal prep? Fabulous because it works perfectly!

You can either refrigerate this curry for 4 – 5 days, OR you can freeze it. I like to freeze it in the portion sizes that I'm going to eat (either 1 or 2 servings), allow it to thaw at room temperature, and then heat it up.

For reheating, you can either pop it in the microwave or you can heat it in a small saucepan.

Either way, I know you're just going to LOVE this recipe! It's tried and true in my house and is loved by many of our readers as well. Just check out the comments – so many awesome ones!

More Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes:

  • Slow Cooker Quinoa Apple Crisp
  • Vegan Sloppy Joes
  • Slow Cooker White Quinoa Chili

Slow Cooker Coconut Quinoa Curry

4.6 from 42 votes

This healthy coconut quinoa curry is one of the easiest meals you'll ever make. Just toss all the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it cook!

author: Alyssa

yield: 8 Servings

Coconut Quinoa Curry Recipe | Made In The Slow Cooker - Simply Quinoa (6)

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep: 20 minutes minutes

Cook: 4 hours hours

Total: 4 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a slow cooker. Stir until everything is fully incorporated.

  • Turn the slow cooker to high and cook for 3 - 4 hours until sweet potato cooks through and the curry has thickened.

Video

Notes

To grate my fresh spices, I like to use a zester.

Nutrition

Calories: 289kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Sodium: 285mg | Potassium: 774mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2970IU | Vitamin C: 79.4mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 5.7mg

cuisine: Indian

course: Main Course

★★★★★

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Filed Under:

  • Dairy Free
  • Dinner
  • Freezer Friendly
  • Gluten-Free
  • Lunch
  • Meal Prep
  • Recipes
  • Slow Cooker
  • Soup
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
Coconut Quinoa Curry Recipe | Made In The Slow Cooker - Simply Quinoa (2024)

FAQs

How do you make quinoa not boring? ›

Flavor Variations

If you're having quinoa often, it can get boring quickly if you're sticking to eating it plain. Here are a few ways to spice up your quinoa! Cilantro Lime – Add 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, and 1/2 teaspoon cumin to 3 cups of cooked quinoa.

Should quinoa be rinsed before cooking to remove saponins and decrease bitterness? ›

Commercial quinoa is often pre-washed to remove the bitter layer before being sold. However, that doesn't completely eliminate the saponins, so soaking quinoa prior to cooking is still a good idea.

Is quinoa healthier than rice? ›

Quinoa is rich in both fiber and protein, contains a much higher amount of other nutrients, and has a similar fluffy texture to the rice. A cup of quinoa contains twice more protein and about 5 g more fiber than white rice. Quinoa contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than white rice.

What can you add to quinoa to make it taste better? ›

What can I add to quinoa after it's cooked? In addition to more of the spices, salt and pepper, or squeeze of citrus, fresh herbs such as cilantro, basil, and mint work beautifully with this spiced quinoa.

What happens if you don't rinse and drain quinoa? ›

It wasn't a huge difference in texture, but definitely noticeable. Rinsing quinoa definitely starts to hydrate the seeds. Flavor – In terms of flavor, the unrinsed quinoa definitely had a nuttier, earthier flavor, but I didn't find it bitter at all. The rinsed quinoa was definitely milder and the flavors more muted.

Is saponin in quinoa toxic to humans? ›

Saponins of C. quinoa: 1) are eaten regularly by humans with no known adverse effects, and 2) have no known toxic effects when tested in laboratory studies. Based on published scientific information, no toxic effects have been identified in mammals, birds, or fish exposed to saponins of Chenopodium quinoa. .

Why do you soak quinoa in vinegar? ›

For people who still find quinoa difficult to digest, soaking your quinoa can help release the phytic acid (which binds to certain vitamins and minerals and keeps us from absorbing them) and activating phytase, the enzyme that helps us digest them. What you'll need: Quinoa. Lemon juice or white or apple cider vinegar.

What is the best way to eat quinoa? ›

5 Tips for Incorporating Quinoa Into Your Diet
  1. Make more than you need. Always make more quinoa than you need and refrigerate the leftovers to use throughout the week. ...
  2. Add some flavor. Quinoa has a very neutral taste on its own. ...
  3. Toss it in salads. ...
  4. Enjoy it for breakfast. ...
  5. Use it to replace your less nutritious grains.

What happens if you don't soak quinoa? ›

In short, no, you don't need to soak quinoa. However, doing so is said to remove phytic acid, which may make it easier for people to digest quinoa. If you just want to remove the bitter flavor from quinoa, rinse it under cold water for about a minute.

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