Instant Pot Spanish Quinoa
This Post Contains Affiliate Links. Click Here To Read Our Full Disclosure.
Instant Pot Spanish Quinoa. How to make a Spanish quinoa in the instant pot. Similar flavours to a classic paella with chorizo, peas, red peppers, saffron, turmeric and paprika. An easy to make one pot Mediterranean lunch in the instant pot.
Table of Contents
Instant Pot Spanish Quinoa
I am a HUGE paella fan and can’t go a summer without going out for a paella lunch with the kids.
Paella is my number #1 favourite food and have also published a recipe for instant pot paella.
But I limit having a paella to once a year because I have a gluten intolerance and if I ate it regularly, I would end up poorly.
When I was gifted some quinoa, I said to my eldest son Kyle who loves paella rice, we must make an instant pot Spanish quinoa.
It would be inspired by our love for paella and the Spanish and Portuguese rice side dishes that we often have when we are out for dinner.
At this point we had already made a basic instant pot quinoa, instant pot quinoa salad and instant pot Mexican quinoa.
Because supplies were running low instant pot Spanish quinoa would be our last and the one, we were the most excited about trying.
Both myself and Kyle stood over the instant pot, as it released pressure, smelling the aroma and getting excited with our fork at trying this instant pot Spanish quinoa for the first time, and let me tell you now it didn’t disappoint.
In fact, out of three variations of flavoured quinoa this Spanish rice style version was the BEST.
Instant Pot Spanish Rice Vs Paella
You’re probably wondering is this instant pot Spanish rice or is this instant pot paella and what the difference is.
Well a classic paella will either be loaded with seafood such as clams, mussels and prawns.
Or it will be the chicken version with delicious chunks of boneless and skinless chicken thighs.
But Spanish rice is everything but the chicken and seafood. It is the fragrant rice.
It is the colourful rice because of the saffron and the turmeric. It’s a delicious flavour of the Mediterranean.
With our instant pot Spanish quinoa, it is a gluten free version of the Spanish rice.
An even healthier option and perfect for if you follow a gluten free lifestyle or are on Slimming World or Weight Watchers.
Chorizo Quinoa Paella
One of my favourite ingredients in paella is chorizo. It is used in a lot of Spanish and Portuguese dishes and I always find it odd to eat out in Portugal and not have any chorizo.
When I am making a quinoa inspired paella, I will throw the diced chorizo in last and then give it a shake before serving.
Chorizo is ready to eat and pressure cooking it will make it like rubber.
Plus, if you are feeding a vegetarian or vegan, you can serve theirs first before adding in the chorizo.
How To Make Spanish Quinoa In The Instant Pot?
Cooking Spanish quinoa in the instant pot is so EASY it will be on your weekly meal plan on a regular basis. You can have it as your main one pot meal or serve it with seafood or chicken or both.
Here is how to cook Spanish quinoa:
- Sauté sliced mixed peppers in the instant pot with extra virgin olive oil.
- Drain and rinse quinoa.
- Dump everything else into the instant pot, stir and place the lid on the instant pot.
- Cook for one minute, allow natural pressure release, stir and serve.
Instant Pot Spanish Quinoa Ingredients
The ingredients in instant pot Spanish quinoa are simple and at the time of making this dish, I had every item in my pantry.
Though I am now out of saffron and need to restock!
The full instant pot Spanish quinoa recipe ingredients list include:
- Quinoa (this is the brand we used)
- Chorizo
- Frozen Peas (or canned)
- Mixed Peppers
- Vegetable Stock
- Saffron
- Turmeric
- Paprika
- Coriander
- Mixed Spice
- Parsley
- Salt & Pepper
The best vegetable stock I ever used on a paella; was the cartons you can buy in Spain.
The ones outside of Spain are never the same, but this vegetable stock is the closest I have found as a backup.
My Instant Pot Quinoa Is Sticking?
You need a layer of oil in your instant pot to stop the quinoa from sticking to the instant pot.
The most well known way of doing this is to rub coconut oil in the bottom and sides of your instant pot.
However, when you make instant pot Spanish quinoa you don’t need to do this.
That is because sautéing the peppers first with extra virgin olive oil will create a layer of oil and make it non-stick for you.
Instant Pot Spanish Quinoa
Ingredients
Kitchen Gadgets:
Instant Pot Spanish Quinoa Recipe Ingredients:
- 1 Cup Quinoa
- 1.25 Cups Vegetable Stock
- 1 Tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Medium Red Pepper
- 150 g Frozen Peas
- 2 Tsp Paprika
- 1 Tsp Mixed Spice
- 1 Tsp Turmeric
- Saffron
- 1 Tsp Coriander
- 2 Tsp Parsley
- Salt & Pepper
- 30 g Chorizo optional
Instructions
- Dice your red pepper. Load into the instant pot with extra virgin olive oil and cook for about 4 minutes or until the peppers has started to soften. Then cancel sauté.
- Rinse your quinoa.
- Load everything into the instant pot apart from the chorizo, stir and place the lid on your instant pot.
- Cook for 1 minute on manual/pressure cook then allow for 12 minutes natural pressure release before manually releasing pressure.
- When its finished remove the lid and fluff up your Spanish quinoa with a fork.
- Thinly slice chorizo and stir into your fluffy Spanish quinoa.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
If you can get a paella flavoured stock, do so as it will make it taste even better. You can use either red peppers or a mix of any bell peppers. I used ½ a red pepper and ½ a yellow pepper.
Nutrition
Can’t make it now? Then pin it for later!
Join The RecipeThis.com Community:
Facebook Group | Pinterest | Twitter | YouTube
Plus, don’t forget to subscribe below to join our email newsletter with updates of our latest recipes, latest freebies, our cooking stories, plus much more:
Thanks so much for this recipe. I am gluten free and miss paella so much.
Oh my all my favorite foods into one recipe! I can’t wait to try this! Plus can never get enough chorizo. OH YASSS!!!!
instant pot for the win!!! This looks so delicious and filling! I love using quinoa, but especially in the summer for something light!
You had me at quinoa, chorizo and turmeric. YUM.
What a fantastic recipe! Great for lunch leftovers. Thanks for sharing 🙂