Vegetarian Harvest Stir Fry with Quinoa

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-06 · Updated 2026-05-06

A vibrant, nutrient-packed stir fry blending fresh vegetables with fluffy quinoa. This asian-inspired vegetarian ready in about 30 minutes pairs quinoa, water, extra virgin olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup, rinsed quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium, sliced into thin strips red bell pepper
• 1 large, julienned carrot
• 1 cup, trimmed snap peas
• 1 small, thinly sliced yellow onion
• 2 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp, grated fresh ginger
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
• 1 tbsp lime juice

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add 1 cup rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Remove from heat and fluff with fork.
2. Step 2: While quinoa cooks, heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 small thinly sliced yellow onion and 2 minced garlic cloves, sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1 medium sliced red bell pepper, 1 large julienned carrot, and 1 cup trimmed snap peas to the skillet. Stir fry for 5-6 minutes until vegetables are crisp-tender.
4. Step 4: Stir in 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp grated fresh ginger, and 1 tsp toasted sesame oil. Cook for 1 more minute until sauce coats the vegetables and becomes aromatic.
5. Step 5: Remove skillet from heat and toss in the cooked quinoa, 2 tbsp chopped cilantro, and 1 tbsp lime juice. Mix gently to combine and serve warm.