Easy Teriyaki Quinoa Bowl (Printable)

Crispy baked tofu over fluffy quinoa with spiralized vegetables, sweet mango, and homemade gluten-free teriyaki sauce. A complete healthy meal in under an hour.

# Components:

→ Protein

01 - 14 oz extra-firm tofu, pressed and cubed, or 14 oz boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into cubes
02 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Grains

04 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
05 - 2 cups water or vegetable broth

→ Vegetables and Fruit

06 - 2 medium zucchini, spiralized
07 - 2 medium carrots, spiralized
08 - 1 ripe mango, peeled and diced
09 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
10 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, optional

→ Teriyaki Sauce

11 - 1/4 cup gluten-free soy sauce or tamari
12 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
13 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
14 - 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
15 - 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
16 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
17 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss tofu or chicken cubes with cornstarch and olive oil. Arrange in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until tofu is golden and crisp or chicken is cooked through and lightly browned.
04 - Rinse quinoa under cold water. In a saucepan, combine quinoa and water or broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork.
05 - Spiralize zucchini and carrots. Set aside in a bowl.
06 - In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. Bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook until thickened, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
07 - Divide quinoa among bowls. Top with spiralized vegetables, baked tofu or chicken, mango, and spring onions. Drizzle with teriyaki sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using.
08 - Serve immediately while components are at optimal temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks at once so youre not stuck at the stove juggling pans and timers.
  • The teriyaki sauce thickens beautifully without weird additives and tastes brighter than anything from a bottle.
  • You can swap tofu for chicken or even shrimp and the method stays exactly the same.
  • Spiralized vegetables add crunch and volume without weighing you down after lunch.
02 -
  • Press your tofu for at least 15 minutes or it will steam instead of crisp, even with cornstarch.
  • Dont skip flipping the protein halfway through baking or youll get one golden side and one pale soggy side.
  • Add the cornstarch slurry slowly while stirring or your sauce will turn into lumpy gravy.
  • Spiralize vegetables right before serving or they release water and make your bowl soggy.
03 -
  • Use a silicone brush to coat your protein evenly with oil and cornstarch so every piece crisps up.
  • Double the teriyaki sauce and keep half in a jar for drizzling over rice, noodles, or roasted vegetables later in the week.
  • If your mango is underripe, roast the cubes for 10 minutes with a tiny drizzle of honey to bring out sweetness.
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