One-Pot Cheesy Vegan Quinoa with Broccoli & Chickpeas (GF)

I've been trying to come up with more pantry-friendly, simple dinner recipes for you all to enjoy during this time. This one-pot cheesy vegan quinoa with broccoli and chickpeas is a healthy comfort food that can easily be made with pantry and freezer ingredients. It's creamy, gluten-free, hearty, and so easy to make!

This dish is made by simple cooking the quinoa in a savory broth, flavored with aromatic onion and garlic. Then we add nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor, and a quick homemade cashew milk for creaminess. Then we add chickpeas and broccoli, and the veggies get steamed as the flavor marinates throughout the dish.

As I'm cooking a lot during quarantine, the dishes just seem to pile up. And since we don't have a dishwasher, I love anything that minimizes the amount of dishes used during the process, which is why this one-pot meal is the perfect cozy dish for these nights.

Ingredient rundown:

• Cashews: serve as the creamy sauce base. I love to buy them bulk online here, since I use them for so many vegan recipes.
• Quinoa: quinoa simply soaks up the delicious flavors and quinoa goodness in this dish, as well as adds protein!
• Chickpeas: add protein and texture
• Broccoli florets: fresh or frozen both work!
• Vegetable broth: a flavorful liquid to cook the quinoa.
• Garlic + onion: add savory depth of flavor.
• Nutritional yeast: the ultimate vegan staple, giving so many recipes a cheesy flavor! I love to buy it in bulk here.
• Lemon juice: boosts the cheesy flavor!

Why you'll love this cheesy vegan quinoa dish:

• One-pot: this means less dishes and effort- woohoo!
• Pantry friendly: This recipe consists of ingredients I always have in my pantry, and I tend to also have frozen broccoli florets. But if you don't, feel free to get creative and add the veggies that you do have.
• Easily customizable: The broccoli and chickpeas can easily be switched out for other veggies and legumes, as the quinoa can be switched out for another grain. Read on for serving suggestions!
• Hearty: The protein in the quinoa, chickpeas, and broccoli make this a complete, filling meal.
• So delicious: This vegan cheesy quinoa is garlicky, creamy, and comforting.

Serving suggestions:

• Spinach or mushrooms would be delightful in this dish
• Chickpeas could be substituted for another bean such as white beans
• Broccoli can be substituted with peas or another green veggie
• Quinoa can be substituted with rice or a similar grain- just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly
• I love to add chopped chives or green onions on top for garnish

I hope you guys love this vegan cheesy quinoa as much as I do! If you love quinoa, I think you'll also love my chickpea quinoa bowls and quinoa-stuffed honeynut squash recipes.

I would love to see your recreations on Instagram @zenandzaatar. Don't forget to pin this recipe for later!

Recipe

One-Pot Cheesy Vegan Quinoa with Broccoli & Chickpeas (GF)

Zena Hassoun

This cheesy vegan quinoa with broccoli and chickpeas is a pantry-friendly, gluten-free, healthy comfort food dish that can be made in one pot.

4.53 from 19 votes

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Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Vegan

Servings 6

Calories 692 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cup raw cashews
• 2 cups water
• ½ cup diced onion
• 3-4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 ½ tablespoon oil or water
• 1 ½ cups quinoa
• 3 cups vegetable broth or 3 cups water + 1 tablespoon vegetable bouillon
• 12-14 oz. fresh or frozen broccoli florets
• 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas or 1 15 oz. can chickpeas
• ¼ cup nutritional yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt or to taste, depends on saltiness of bouillon
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3 tablespoon lemon juice
• chives or green onions chopped, for garnish

Instructions

 

• Sauté onion in oil or water in a pot over medium high heat until translucent, 3-5 mins. Then, add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 2 more mins.
• Add in quinoa and toast lightly for 1-2 mins, before adding in vegetable broth or water and bouillon. Bring to a boil, and then cover and simmer on medium low heat until most of the liquid is absorbed, 8-12 mins.
• Meanwhile, make your cashew cream by blending 1 cup cashews and 2 cups water until smooth; it doesn't have to be perfect.
• Once quinoa is cooked, add in cashew cream, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, garlic powder and chickpeas. Stir to combine, and then add the broccoli florets. Cover with a lid to steam the broccoli and cook until tender, 3-5 mins.
• Check with a fork to see that the broccoli is tender, add lemon juice, and stir to combine. Serve topped with chopped green onions or chives. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 692kcalCarbohydrates: 108gProtein: 37gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gSodium: 1326mgFiber: 38gSugar: 19g

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below and tag @zenandzaatar on social!