Lemon Cumin Quinoa - PCOS-Friendly Recipe
This Lemon Cumin Quinoa is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 347 calories, 7.73g protein, and 55.53g carbs per serving. Ready in 35 minutes. High in fiber (7.8g), which supports insulin sensitivity.
Nutrition per Serving
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
- In a medium bowl, soak the raisins and apricots in hot water for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a 2-quart saucepan, bring 2 cups water, the quinoa, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil over high heat.
- 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.
- Fluff the quinoa with a fork and turn it out on a baking sheet to cool at room temperature.
- 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.
- In a large bowl, toss the vinaigrette with the quinoa, raisins, apricots, avocado, scallions and almonds.
- 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.
You Have a Recipe. But Do You Have a Full Week?
One great recipe is a start. A complete PCOS meal plan is a system. Here is how to go from one meal to a full week of eating that supports your hormones.
Free. Personalized. No signup required to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this Lemon Cumin Quinoa recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 347 calories per serving with 7.73g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 7.8g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.
This recipe takes about 35 minutes total. Prep time is 20 minutes and cook time is 15 minutes. It makes 4 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.
Per serving: 347 calories, 7.73g protein (9%), 55.53g carbs, 12.88g fat. Plus 7.8g fiber. PCOS meal plans typically aim for 30% protein, 35% fat, 35% carbs to support insulin sensitivity.
Yes, this recipe works well as a PCOS-friendly Side Dish. At 347 calories, it fits within typical PCOS meal plan targets for Side Dish. Pair it with other PCOS-friendly foods throughout the day for balanced nutrition.
This recipe can be part of a structured PCOS meal plan. It makes 4 servings, making it great for meal prep. For a complete weekly plan tailored to your PCOS type, take our free 60-second quiz at pcosmealplanner.com/pcos-quiz to get a personalized 7-day meal plan.
Cook Another PCOS-Friendly Side Dish
Each recipe you add to your rotation makes PCOS management easier. Variety keeps you from getting bored and quitting.
Comments
Register or log in to add a comment