Lemon Cumin Quinoa - PCOS-Friendly Recipe

Lemon Cumin Quinoa
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 15 min
Servings: 4
Side Dish

Nutrition per Serving

347 Calories
7.73g Protein
55.53g Carbs
12.88g Fat
A fragrant combination of quinoa with lemon, cumin, scallions, avocado, raisins and apricots.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 oz dried apricot
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/4 tsp coriander
  • 1/4 tsp sweet paprika
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp freshly ground pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 avocado
  • 2 oz raisins
  • 2 medium scallions
  • 1 cup quinoa

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, soak the raisins and apricots in hot water for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a 2-quart saucepan, bring 2 cups water, the quinoa, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil over high heat.
  3. Cover, reduce the heat to medium low, and simmer until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is translucent and tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
  4. Fluff the quinoa with a fork and turn it out on a baking sheet to cool at room temperature.
  5. Finely grate the zest from the lemon and then squeeze 1 tablespoon juice in a small bowl, whisk the lemon zest and juice with the olive oil, coriander, cumin, paprika and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
  6. In a large bowl, toss the vinaigrette with the quinoa, raisins, apricots, avocado, scallions and almonds.
  7. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

How This Recipe Supports PCOS Management

Understanding the nutritional profile of what you eat is a powerful step in managing PCOS. Here is how the key ingredients in this Lemon Cumin Quinoa contribute to your health goals:

  • Quinoa: Has a lower glycemic index than most grains, making it ideal for PCOS
  • Avocado: Healthy fats support hormone production and help reduce inflammation
  • Olive oil: Anti-inflammatory properties make it especially beneficial for PCOS

PCOS Diet Principles in This Recipe

The PCOS diet focuses on three core principles: reducing inflammation, managing insulin resistance, and supporting hormonal balance. Every recipe in our collection is evaluated against these principles. This recipe excels in providing healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that support cell membrane health and hormone synthesis, and nutrient-dense vegetables that provide essential vitamins and minerals for metabolic health. As part of a balanced PCOS meal plan, we recommend pairing recipes like this with a variety of nutrient-dense foods throughout the week to ensure you are meeting all your micronutrient needs.

Meal Prep Tip: This Lemon Cumin Quinoa can be prepared ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Meal prepping is one of the most effective strategies for sticking to a PCOS-friendly diet, as it removes the temptation to reach for processed convenience foods when time is short.

PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe

This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Lemon.

Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

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