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I made this last night and it was great! It was my first time trying curry paste – the flavor was great and it also was very easy. Yum!
Lily
And so it begins!
This recipe was lovingly cooked, photographed, and snarfed down in .3 seconds from the very new, very bright, and very extra delicious Pinch of Yum kitchen! WELCOME FRIENDS. ♡
In honor of the awesomeness of bright colors popping out of our bowls right up in the face of old man winter – POW! – can we branch out today and do the Healthy Quinoa Chicken Curry Bowls thing together? Because these quinoa chicken curry bowls are not only colorful and healthy and delicious to the core (veggies! spices! hurrah!), but they also come together quickly, which is basically a must-have in my life these days as any and all of my spare minutes are spent geeking out on Instagram instead of moving boxes of stuff up into the new kitchen. Very super important.
I’m just so good at life right now.
I also need need NEED these quinoa chicken curry bowls today because, I’m going to say it in three, two, one: I am getting tired of Thanksgiving food. NO! I don’t mean it. But I sort of do don’t hate me don’t hate me don’t hate meeeee.
I know, I get it, all the Real Bloggers have to make things in advance of holidays in order to give recipe-searchers enough time to find them before the big day. Yes, okay, pats on the backs for all the Real Bloggers of the world — including myself, sort of, because I had a rah-rah start with a few Thanksgiving recipes that were actually “on time” this year. Hey! Party!
But at this point, I’ve actually eaten so many crockpots full of garlic mashed potatoes in the last few weeks that I might — *might* — be ready for a break, which is saying A LOT because hello: garlic mashed potatoes.
So even though I can never get too much of the stuffing-and-mashed-potatoes-and-gravy combo, today is a good day for a rest. This mini-break involves bowls piled high with veggie freshness, filling power foods quinoa + chicken, and the warm spicyness of curry, and you guys. I am so there. Front row, edge of chair, fork in hand, go time.
And about the new kitchen?
Yeah, I LOVE IT. Mostly what I love is that now I get to do my food thing while Bjork sits and does his techno-thing at the counter and I don’t feel like I’m hibernating in a closet in the back of the house all by myself. I mean, there just used to be a big fat wall there, and now there’s two computers and a bar stool and Bjork’s face.
Also, I love having an oven that is normal. I love having a stove that is SUPER high powered to the point where I get a little scared every time I use it. I love having a FULL SIZE fridge, and dishes that don’t have layers and layers of dust on them. And lights! I love having lights. And taking these pictures right on our new countertops? Yeah. I can’t even.
Right now as I type this the floor guys are finishing the final flooring something (what are they even doing? should I know? sometimes I just take a second to sit back and be thankful that I have nothing to do with the actual WORK of this remodel) and we are also waiting on appliance panels and a backsplash. When that’s all set, you can expect a blast of words, pictures, and videos in a Kitchen Tour post! I am literally smiling, alone, to no one right now. It just makes me that happy to think about virtually inviting you into the new space.
Until then, curry bowls! I used tomato and eggplant again because the combo of those two lovers in the Spanish Chicken and Potatoes was whoa good, and once again, even for the non-eggplanters in the house, the veggies delivered.
Make them curry bowls as spicy as you want, top them with everything, and enjoy eating well.
Healthy Quinoa Chicken Curry Bowls
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
These Quinoa Chicken Curry Bowls are vibrant, fresh, and come together in a snap. Full of nutritious ingredients like quinoa, chicken, and veggies.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup diced onions
- 1 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs (breasts are also good)
- 2 tablespoons curry paste
- 2 teaspoons garam masala (cumin or roasted coriander are also good)
- 1 tablespoon ginger paste
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 cups tomato puree
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3 cups diced eggplant (peel removed)
- 3 cups diced fresh tomatoes
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- toppings: crushed almonds, rice, noodles, cilantro, green onions, almond butter
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a deep pan over medium high heat. Add the onions and saute for 2-3 minutes until soft and fragrant. Add the chicken, curry paste, garam masala, ginger, and garlic. Stir fry for another 3-5 minutes to get the chicken pieces browned.
- Add the tomato puree, broth, eggplant, tomatoes, and quinoa. Cover and smmer for 15-20 minutes (check the quinoa package for cook time – mine was a sprouted quinoa that cooked in 15 minutes). When it’s done, it will look like the picture above – sort of like a stew.
- When the chicken and quinoa are both cooked through, serve in big bowls topped with ALL THE THINGS. We like rice, cilantro, green onions, and crushed almonds for crunch.
Notes
Slow cooker variation: dump everything in the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8. Also delicious!
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: healthy quinoa curry bowls, curry bowls, quinoa bowls
Looooooove the kitchen! You are such an inspiration.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate that Carmen.
What if you can’t get ginger paste? What else can be substituted? Thanks
You could use a bit of fresh ginger or ground ginger as a sub here. Enjoy!
What type of curry paste do you use? This sounds so good!!
We like using Thai Kitchen red curry paste.
Congrats on the new kitchen….it’s kind of like getting married all over again. Okay, sorry about the bad analogy.
Chicken curry bowls looks delightful, and yes, I’m getting sick of Thanksgiving foods too a bit, I just feel so bloated these days. Need to hit up a Taco Truck now! Beautiful presentation on the bowls and healthy. The perfect thing to eat all week so I can save a few calories to splurge on the “big day” Love the Cabinets. I got a few windows in my too. Windows were really fun until people coming over could see how messy I am. Should have rethought that. Opps!
You guys are so adorable! Congrats on your new kitchen.
Haha – well thanks Katya. 🙂
Two things:
1. Happy New Pinch of Yum kitchen!
2. This quinoa chicken curry looks so delicious!
So funny that you mention the whole blogger Thanksgiving time issue…as a new blogger, I’ve just been posting my Thanksgiving recipes this week…realizing that I will have to do that earlier, not only for the readers, but because my family is already OVER the food, except for the desserts…they’ll take more of those anytime… That topic needed a full paragraph of discussion in my stuffing post! Looks like Thanksgiving this year will need some brand new traditions….or maybe we’ll just have pizza? 😉
I’m loving this recipe. I haven’t made any curry dishes at home and this looks like a perfect place to start!
Oh Lindsay! I am sooo happy for you!!! Please DO post lots of pictures of your new digs!!!
Will do! Probably in excess. 🙂
i am super excited about that kitchen for you and I don’t even really really know you, but i’m not sure that matters. hooray for your new kitchen…can’t wait to see the videos and more photos!!
Thanks Ranee! I’m really anxious to start filming video!
Awesome kitchen! We are waiting on our second estimate to get a gas stove into my new farm kitchen. The previous owner used electric and flat top. I’ve cooked on gas for 12 years. I’ve been burning a lot of things! My stove is surrounded with hot pads so I can quickly remove something from a burner since it takes FOREVER for electric to cool down. Our problem is that the gas company wants $2000 just to bring the gas to the house! But if we buy a gas water heater they won’t charge us anything. So the estimate for a new range and hood now needs to include a new water heater.
Great idea with the hot pads! haha!
Oh Karen we have the same issue. I think its $3000 just to bring it into the house and then we would have to update a bunch of things. Just not worth it right now.
Lindsay I am so excited to see your kitchen. I have to live vicariously through other peoples’ kitchen renos since we don’t plan on doing one for a while.
Congratulations! What a relief it must be to finally have your kitchen back. It looks beautiful. I’m envious of all the bright light in your kitchen, mine tends to be a bit dungeon like…
Thank you! I love the natural light! These pictures were actually taken at night, with my lighting unit, because they were working on the kitchen all day so I couldn’t shoot during daylight hours. That was kinda sad. But soon I’ll be able to take advantage of it for real!
Lindsay, what kind of lighting unit do you use?
To double check – the quinoa is uncooked when you put it in?
Yep! Uncooked.
Hi. This looks divine! May I ask, do the nutritional values include the rice you added? Do you think it would be good without the rice? Thanks. I can’t wait to try this.
Hi Pam! I don’t believe it includes the rice. Would be great without it though too!
This sounds and looks amazing! I’ll definitely be trying this out!
Also…I know you’re sick of it, but garlic mashed potatoes?! That sounds amazing!! Never had that either!
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Yaaaay new kitchen! Congratulations! It is so wonderfully awesome that you can take pictures right from your countertop. We’re about to build our own itty bitty house (SO EXCITED!) and I plan on putting a giant skylight over our kitchen for this purpose. Woohoo!
I am all about curry flavors right now, so I totally love this recipe. Chicken and quinoa means double the protein! I’m about to reenter the workforce and need awesome lunch ideas like this!
Oh my gosh, congratulations! And love the skylight in the kitchen!
All I have to say is, that range looks AMAZING. 5 burners? I die.
Thanks Tessa! It’s pretty much the scariest and best thing I’ve ever cooked on. I have no idea how to control the flames… there has been a lot of “charring” if you know what I mean. 🙂 hehehe. But I love it!
YES! I totally know what you mean, Lindsay, about being a wee bit of sick of all the Thanksgiving food. 🙂 And it was kind of nice to have a Real Blogger such as yourself, posting a recipe that didn’t feature “Thanksgiving flavors”. Which I love Thanksgiving flavors, but it seems that every year, we get ready for the next holiday earlier and earlier, so that by the time it rolls around, I am tired of hearing about only those flavors/foods that arbitrarily belong to that time of year. Although this is coming from someone that doesn’t really adhere to traditions…our family used to have the tradition that we always had pizza on Thanksgiving! ;P
SOO excited to see your new cooking space!!! I can’t wait and I am so happy for you! Happy oven-ing! 🙂
What a fun idea to have PIZZA on Thanksgiving! I love it.
You are living my dream, lol! Congratulations! What a gorgeous kitchen. Your photos are soooo good I feel like reaching in and taking a forkful. Pinning this to make later this week. 🙂
Thank you Veronica! Appreciate that!
Om nom nom. Get me a fork! Perfect for breaking up thanksgiving-palooza with something equally warm and delicious.
Hooray for new kitchens! All of that light *0* And gah, curry anything is enough to make my mouth water. So healthy, so delicious.
Congrats on the new kitchen, we remodeled 4 years ago and I still love it as much as the day it was done. The soup looks AMAZING- great photos as always.
Yay for your new kitchen! It’s beautiful. I’m a sucker for that bright and airy feel, you guys definitely nailed it! And these curry quinoa bowls look SO good! I’ll be making a vegan version ASAP. Thank you!
Is that a Bosch cooktop? It looks like the exact same one we put in our new house last year! I hear you about being afraid to fire it up.
I’m still working through my (early blogger/Canadian) Thanksgiving turkey, so I might use some of that in a quinoa turkey curry bowl.
Can’t wait to see the rest of the kitchen! Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Those quinoa bowls are pretty pretty, too 😉 Did you use chicken thighs vs breasts for more flavor/juiciness? Or is that just what you had on hand?
Yay for the kitchen being finished! And yay for quinoa curry bowls with an extra side of spicy!
Btw – I am sorry if I missed it – but what type of curry paste did you use?
When I looked at the photos here, I couldn’t help but think about how appropriate it is to have Apple computers in your kitchen… 🙂 Congratulations on being able to cook there now. And I’m certain you’ll catch on with the stove.
Question about the curry paste: in my experience curry paste is the Thai stuff, which comes in red, green and yellow (orange). Which one did you use? Or was it something else? I want to be able to make these and have them come out tasting as good as they sound and look.
Yay! So excited for you guys to be on the home stretch with your kitchen. My husband’s parents are in the middle of renovating their kitchen, and sadly it won’t be done before Thanksgiving! Happy cooking in your new space!
xoxo