Easy Kimchi Quinoa Bowl (Vegan Option)

This Easy Kimchi Quinoa Bowl is one of my favourite ways to include probiotic-rich kimchi in my diet. It’s a simple yet flavourful weeknight dinner idea that can be easily adapted to suit your needs. A vegetarian recipe, with a vegan option available.

I can’t stop obsessing over this kimchi quinoa bowl! For so long I had been wanting to incorporate kimchi into my meals, but I was never quite sure what to do with it. This recipe ended up being such a great way to cook with it!

This recipe is so quick and easy to make (especially if you’ve already meal prepped quinoa ahead of time), and you can totally modify it with whatever veggies, grains, or proteins you have on hand.

PS. While the picture has a fried egg in it, you can easily make this recipe plant-based! I’ve included instructions for a vegan version below.

Have you cooked with kimchi before? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear your favourite ways to use it :).

What Is Kimchi?

The term “kimchi” describes a group of salted and fermented vegetable foods in Korean.

Kimchi is a fermented vegetable condiment (usually cabbage) that gives a fantastic flavour to your meals. A traditional Korean food, kimchi is often made with different vegetables, garlic, ginger, spring onions, chili peppers, salt, and sometimes fish sauce (although vegan/vegetarian options are available). 

Curious what kimchi tastes like? The flavour of kimchi will vary depending on what the manufacturer will use in their recipe (the varieties are endless). But in general, it has a bit of a spicy and sour kick to it.

Kimchi can be used as a condiment to add flavour to all types of meals, including stir-fries, rice and noodle dishes, sandwiches, and more.

Kimchi Health Benefits

Is kimchi healthy? You bet! Kimchi is rich in good-for-the-gut bacteria, which is added to the cabbage in order to ferment it.

When you eat kimchi, you thus directly ingest that good bacteria. Promoting a healthy and diverse gut microbiome may improve many aspects of our health.

In addition to the gut health benefits, kimchi is made with vegetables that are often a good source of fibre, different micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), and various phytochemicals/antioxidants.

A review on kimchi shows that it may have a positive effect on our skin, brain, heart, digestive, and immune health.

How To Make Kimchi Quinoa Bowl

Start by cooking quinoa on the stove, or by using leftover quinoa that you’ve already prepared. I’ve got an entire post on How To Cook Quinoa if you’re interested!

Next, chop vegetables of your choice into small one-inch pieces. I’ve used both broccolini and asparagus spears for this recipe, but feel free to get creative with whatever vegetables you have on hand! I think it would work great with regular broccoli, zucchini, or green beans.

Heat up a large pan over medium and add olive oil. Sauté vegetables for about 5-10 minutes, or until slightly tender. Add the spinach or another leafy green and cook until wilted.

Then, add the cooked quinoa, garlic powder, tamari, a little bit of kimchi and a splash of the liquid from the jar. Cook for a few minutes and set aside.

Meanwhile, prepare your protein of choice. Serve kimchi-quinoa mixture in a bowl and top with protein, a drizzle of toasted sesame oil, sesame seeds, and a spoonful of raw kimchi.

Vegan Option

To make this recipe vegan, make sure you’re using a vegan kimchi (i.e. one made without fish).

Then, simply swap the egg for a vegan protein, like pan-fried tofu or tempeh. I’ve made this recipe with tofu and it was equally as delicious.

Recipe Variations & Modifications

There are many ways you can modify this recipe. For instance:

1. Instead of a fried egg, use any protein you’d like. This would work great with crispy tofu, tempeh, sautéed shrimp, salmon, or chicken.
2. Instead of quinoa, feel free to use a different whole grain. Try it with brown rice, farro, or millet!
3. You can use any vegetable you’d like here, such as broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, green beans, spinach, etc. It’s a great way to use up any veggies that need to be eaten.

Meal Prep: Storage & Reheating Tips

This recipe can easily be made ahead of time. Simply store leftovers in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.

If using a fried egg, just prepare the egg right before serving! For other proteins (like tofu or tempeh), you can store them together with the kimchi-quinoa mix.

To maintain optimal texture, this dish can be reheated on the stove. Simply add everything to a pan and sauté until hot. In a pinch, you can also reheat this kimchi quinoa bowl in the microwave.

TIP: To get the health benefits of kimchi, be sure to serve some raw kimchi on the side!

More Healthy Bowl Recipes

• Cheesy Butternut Squash Rice Bowl With Shrimp
• High Protein Chimichurri Grain Bowl
• Green Goddess Rice Bowl With Shrimp
• Pesto Quinoa Bowl With Broccoli & Sweet Potato
• Shrimp Taco Salad Bowl
• Vegan Noodle Bowl With Spicy Peanut Sauce

Did you give this Easy Kimchi Quinoa Bowl Recipe a try? Let me know by leaving a comment and recipe rating below!

If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Pinterest – seeing your creations always makes my day. You can also subscribe to my email list to never miss a new recipe or nutrition education post!

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