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    Home » Recipes » Dairy and Gluten-Free Dinner Recipes

    Thai Quinoa Beet Stir Fry

    Modified: Feb 12, 2025 · Published: Dec 27, 2018 by Shelby Stover · This post may contain affiliate links · 29 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Pin image with text: thai quinoa vegan stir fry in a blue bowl on a cutting board with limes, spiralized carrots and beets around it
    Pinterest image with text: thai vegan quinoa stir fry with carrots, beets and snap peas in a wok with blue tongs
    Pinterest image with text: thai quinoa vegan stir fry in a blue bowl on a cutting board with limes, spiralized carrots and beets around it

    With minimal ingredients but lots of flavor this beet stir fry has a sweet and savory taste. Loaded with color and crunch it's a plant-based meal perfect for Meatless Mondays.

    thai quinoa vegan stir fry in a blue bowl on a cutting board with limes, spiralized carrots and beets around it

    If you want to add some color to your meals, as a Certified Nutrition Coach this is the way to do it!

    This beet stir fry uses a spiralizer to create its fun texture and sweet and spicy Thai sauce for its tasty flavor.

    Though it seems like a lot, the hardest part of this dinner is making the beet and carrot noodles. After that, the dinner comes together in about 15 minutes.

    And though it's great as a plant-based meal (the quinoa gives a punch of protein) it's super easy to add extra to the meal- just like this lentil curry with canned lentils.

    If you need another Meatless Monday idea try this lemon soba noodle bowl or jackfruit tacos.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    Colorful - a great way to bump up the color on your dinner table!

    Versatile - this beet stir fry works perfectly for a Meatless Monday dinner, a full meal with added chicken, or even a side dish to a main course.

    Flavorful - a sweet but tangy Thai chili sauce that's maximized by fresh lime.

    Allergy-friendly - naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.

    Ingredients You Need

    Cooked quinoa - you need to do some prep work for the beet stir fry. Having quinoa cooked and ready to add makes this weeknight dinner EASY.

    Beets - though traditional beets are delicious I actually love using both the red and yellow beets just because it makes for a nice mix.

    Carrots - the thicker the better for spiralizing.

    Mushrooms - any other vegetable will work here. We love sugar snap peas, bell pepper, or snow peas as well.

    The dressing - made from a blend of apple cider vinegar, sesame oil, and sweet Thai chili sauce. Adding in some fresh ginger and minced garlic are a great flavor bump up.

    Green onions and lime juice - these are optional but give a pop of flavor to the vegan stir fry.

    How To Make It

    Beets and carrots being spiralized on a wooden cutting board.
    Beets, carrots and mushrooms in a wok.

    Step 1: Spiralize the carrots and beets.

    Step 2: Stir fry the mushrooms, carrots, and beets in oil covered for about four minutes.

    Dressing being poured into a wok with beets and carrots.
    Quinoa, beets, carrots in a big wok.

    Step 3: Whisk together the sauce and pour half of it over the stir fry. Continue to cook.

    Step 4: Add the cooked quinoa and the remaining sauce. Cook covered for a few more minutes and then remove the cover and let the sauce cook down a bit.

    What About The Protein?

    This quinoa stir fry is vegan and filled with veggies (just like this vegan maklouba which is like a rice and veggie upside-down cake!).

    It’s a plant-based dinner option perfect for Meatless Monday.

    However, adding in extra protein tastes amazing too.

    A few of our favorites are:

    • leftover Dutch oven chicken
    • baked teriyaki chicken thighs
    • Eggs as quinoa pairs well with them (savory breakfast bowl)
    • Spicy chicken bites

    You can also do something like adding some hemp hearts if you want to increase the plant-based protein.

    Kitchen Tools

    If you haven't been introduced to a spiralizer, you're missing out. Spiralizers help:

    • keep your meals interesting
    • replace noodles in a dish with a healthier option
    • are great for low-carb recipes
    • make simple dishes like coleslaw or stir fry more visually appealing

    A spiralizer has been a staple in my kitchen for almost eight years now (I went through a raw stage). Not only is it fun (the kids love it!) but you can load up your meal with veggies and skip the starch.

    The spiralizer can be used on zucchini, beets, carrots, and butternut squash.

    I use a spiralizer the most to make noodles but works well with so many vegetables for salads or meals. My kids love to eat zucchini noodles but don't like actual zucchini. So, it's a great way to sneak veggies into their diets.

    The spiralizer takes the vegetables and turns them against a blade to make ringlets and noodles specific to the size of the blade you choose.

    If you're gluten-free, it's a wonderful option (learn more about gluten-free diet tips).

    thai quinoa vegan stir fry in a blue bowl on a cutting board with limes and a fork coming out of the bowl.

    Skip Dinner Stress

    The Busy Mom's Cookbook is where frazzled moms get high-protein dinner on the table fast without sacrificing nutrition or sanity.

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    GET THE E-BOOK

    Frequently Asked Questions About Beet Stir Fry

    Do I have to peel the beets before cooking?

    Yes. Peeling the beets helps to remove excess dirt. Likewise, it makes spiralzing them easier with a more consistent texture.

    Other Easy Dinner Recipes For Busy Moms

    • 30 dairy-free and gluten-free slow cooker recipes
    • Dairy-free gluten-free dinner recipes
    • Easy cauliflower rice
    • One pot sausage and tomato pasta
    • 45 dinner ideas for busy nights
    thai quinoa vegan stir fry in a blue bowl on a cutting board with limes, spiralized carrots and beets around it
    thai quinoa vegan stir fry in a blue bowl on a cutting board with limes, spiralized carrots and beets around it

    Easy Thai Beet Stir Fry

    Shelby Stover
    Brightly colored and easy to make this beet stir fry is smothered in a sweet and tangy Thai sauce and sauteed until just cooked to retain it's crunch.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course dinner
    Cuisine American
    Servings 3 servings
    Calories 301 kcal

    Video

    Equipment

    • Large wok
    • Spiralizer

    Ingredients
      

    • 1.25 cup cooked quinoa
    • 2 large beets peeled
    • 3 large carrots peeled
    • 10 mushrooms snap peas work too!
    • 1.5 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • ⅛ cup avocado oil or coconut oil
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • 2 teaspoons sweet Thai curry sauce
    • 1 tablespoon oil for frying
    • 2 green onions sliced for topping
    • 1 lime optional, for topping

    Instructions
     

    • Prep all the veggies: peel the carrots and beets and de-stem the mushrooms.
    • Spiralize the carrots and beets and slice the mushrooms.
      Beets and carrots being spiralized on a wooden cutting board
    • Heat the tablespoon of oil in a pan just over medium heat (about a six).
    • Add in the veggies, cover and cook for four minutes, tossing once or twice.
      Beets, carrots and mushrooms in a wok
    • In the meantime, whisk together the remaining ingredients for the sauce.
      Homemade thai dressing ingredients in a glass bowl with a whisk beside it
    • Remove the lid, add in two tablespoons of the sauce, toss and re-cover.
      Dressing being poured into a wok with beets and carrots
    • Add in the cooked quinoa, cook for three more minutes, veggies should be tender.
      Quinoa, beets, carrots in a big wok
    • Remove lid and cook for 5 more minutes until the sauce burns off a bit.
    • Portion and serve. Top with green onions, a squeeze of lime and sesame seeds if you have them.

    Notes

    Having quinoa cooked ahead of time makes this beet stir fry whip up quickly. 
    The larger the carrots and beets the easier they will spiralize.
    Keep an eye on your veggies while cooking, you want them tender but just cooked so there's still some crunch.
    Adding in some fresh ginger is a great flavor bump up.
    Store leftover beet stir fry in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat it in a wok with a bit of oil.
    Disclaimer:

    Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"

    Nutrition

    Calories: 301kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 7gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gSodium: 410mgPotassium: 779mgFiber: 7gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 10304IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword beets, carrots, quinoa,
    Have You Tried This Recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment below. Mention @fitasamamabear or tag #fitasamamabear!

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    Comments

    1. Susannah says

      December 27, 2018 at 2:33 pm

      Looks delicious! Will be trying this soon!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        December 27, 2018 at 3:21 pm

        Yay- let me know what you think!

        Reply
    2. linda spiker says

      December 27, 2018 at 2:55 pm

      What a gorgeous meal! So colorful and bright!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        December 27, 2018 at 3:21 pm

        It's one of my newest addictions!

        Reply
    3. Renee D Kohley says

      December 30, 2018 at 11:53 pm

      So many yummy veggies! The flavors sound great!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 02, 2019 at 1:25 am

        Veggies are my staple- I aim for color!

        Reply
    4. Raia Todd says

      January 04, 2019 at 7:15 pm

      Mmmm! I love the beets in there!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 07, 2019 at 3:18 pm

        They make it so colorful!

        Reply
    5. Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri says

      January 07, 2019 at 3:51 am

      This looks so good! I LOVE all of the beets in there. This is such a power-packed nutrition meal, I think it's great that you were able to get so many veggies in there plus lots of flavor. Yum!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 07, 2019 at 3:18 pm

        Haha I always aim for color so lots of veggies! And beets are one of my favs 😀

        Reply
    6. Joni Gomes says

      January 07, 2019 at 3:28 pm

      Loving these thai flavors and those bright colors!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 08, 2019 at 12:25 am

        I aim to eat allll the colors, they make me happy haha

        Reply
    7. Tessa Simpson says

      January 08, 2019 at 4:45 am

      Spiralizing is so much fun, and the beautiful color of the beets really shine here!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 09, 2019 at 7:01 pm

        Spiralizing is fun!

        Reply
    8. Kelly says

      January 10, 2019 at 3:40 am

      I love a good stir fry. It's always a crowd pleaser and delicious for all!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 11, 2019 at 12:40 am

        And it's a simple meal to throw together! Always a win lol

        Reply
    9. CHIHYU says

      January 11, 2019 at 2:30 am

      I love the color and all the fresh yummy ingredients in the recipe. Just fabulous!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 13, 2019 at 2:09 pm

        Right?! The colors just make you want to eat all the veggies!

        Reply
    10. jennifer says

      January 11, 2019 at 4:10 am

      I love all the red -- this would be a fun dish for getting the kids to try something healthy on Valentines Day

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 13, 2019 at 2:09 pm

        Ohh I didn't even think of Vday- great idea!

        Reply
    11. Megan Stevens says

      January 12, 2019 at 10:59 am

      Mmm, the vinegar and beets are yummy additions here!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 13, 2019 at 2:10 pm

        It makes for a nice combo!

        Reply
    12. Zuzana says

      January 12, 2019 at 4:53 pm

      I always look for some special recipes with beetroot and this is just perfect

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 13, 2019 at 2:10 pm

        Yay! Glad you're a beet lover!

        Reply
    13. Meredith says

      January 14, 2019 at 1:28 am

      I love the vibrant color of this Thai flavored stir fry! Pinning to try soon!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 15, 2019 at 12:18 am

        Thanks! I always aim for color!

        Reply
    14. Isabella says

      January 14, 2019 at 2:39 am

      Love the color! This would make the perfect GF lunch/dinner! LOVE IT!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear says

        January 15, 2019 at 12:18 am

        Yes! It's super speedy which is always a win

        Reply
    15. Shelby S says

      July 05, 2025 at 6:22 pm

      5 stars
      I love the colors of this stir fry, there's so many nutrients!

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote

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    I'm Shelby, a Certified Strength & Nutrition Coach who has spent the last 10 years helping women feel more comfortable in their skin though home strength training and healthy food- no diets, no shortcuts

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