Pork Fried Quinoa

Watch Chef John put a modern, healthy twist on pork-fried rice. See more

READY IN 45 mins

Pork Fried Quinoa

Read Reviews (29)

"These tiny quinoa seeds really are sponges for flavor. I was really surprised how decadent and satisfying this seemed, and with only a tablespoon of vegetable oil and a handful of very lean smoked ham." — Chef John

Directions

Rinse quinoa in cold water for about 1 minute and drain well.
Place in a saucepan and cover with 1 1/2 cup cold water and salt. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, until quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes.
Fluff quinoa with a fork and set aside.
Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir ham, red bell pepper, and the white parts of the green onion until the ham begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Set chopped green onion tops aside. Add garlic, remove from heat, and stir until garlic becomes aromatic, 1 or 2 minutes.
Stir in quinoa and return to stove over medium-low heat. Cook and stir until warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add soy sauce, chile-garlic sauce, and sesame seeds. Garnish with reserved green onion tops.

Kitchen-Friendly View

PREP 15 mins
COOK 25 mins
READY IN 45 mins

Reviews More Reviews

Most Helpful Positive Review

Aug 22, 2012

Yum delicious! This recipe inspired me to write my first review. I did just as directed but added some diced squash to the ham/veggie mix and substituted the Sriracha with some red pepper flakes for spice. Even my quinoa-skeptical boyfriend said it was "surprisingly flavorful." Will definitely be making this again.

—ilana

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Most Helpful Critical Review

Aug 22, 2012

I did not care for this recipe.

—JennnnLian

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40 Ratings

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Aug 22, 2012

This is by far the best fried recipe I have found! I tweaked it a little because I didn't have fresh onion. I added garlic salt and about a tablespoon of dried chopped onions to the quinoa while it was cooking. I fried the ham, garlic, and bell pepper in a pan. Then added fresh steamed asparagus at the end. This recipe is fantastic!

—manuahs

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Aug 23, 2012

This is a healthier version of fried rice and as such, that's exactly what it tastes like. I found it to be rather bland and lacking in vegetables for my taste. Thanks for sharing. :o)

—cheepchick

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Aug 23, 2012

This was delicious. Similar to fried rice dishes, I used whatever I had laying around. I substituted leftover turkey bacon for the ham, an inferno pepper (seeded and chopped very fine) instead of bell pepper, and coconut oil instead of vegetable oil. Otherwise, I followed the directions pretty closely. I definitely would like to make this again.

—RebekahC

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Aug 22, 2012

Delicous, healthy, and easy to make. What could be better?

—Laura

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Oct 30, 2012

Awesome recipe! First time DH tried quinoa and he said it was better than rice. Used green and red bell pepper in the dish. I didn't see were the rice vinegar was used in the directions so I left it out.

—Lil' Punkin

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Oct 05, 2012

This was good for what it is. I love quinoa and I love fried rice, but I don't feel like the texture of quinoa fit this recipe. With the left overs I heated and added an egg and sesame oil to make it different and I liked it that way better. I made this with the Szechwan Shrimp from allrecipes.

—faithirene

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Nutrition

Calories
287 kcal
14%

Carbohydrates
30.3 g
10%

Cholesterol
19 mg
6%

Fat
12.6 g
19%

Fiber
4.5 g
18%

Protein
12.8 g
26%

Sodium
827 mg
33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Information

Pork Fried Quinoa

Serving Size: 1/4 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 287
Calories from Fat: 113

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 12.6g 19 %
Saturated Fat 2.8g 14 %
Cholesterol 19mg 6 %
Sodium 827mg 33 %
** Potassium 204mg 6 %
Total Carbohydrates 30.3g 10 %
Dietary Fiber 4.5g 18 %
Protein 12.8g 26 %
** Sugars 1.2g
** Vitamin A 16 %
** Vitamin C 67 %
** Calcium 4 %
** Iron 8 %
** Thiamin 25 %
** Niacin 25 %
** Vitamin B6 15 %
** Magnesium 6 %
** Folate 11 %

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.