Pressure Cooker Cuban Black Bean Quinoa Bowls

Healthy and Filling, Pressure Cooker Cuban Black Bean Quinoa Bowls are super easy to make, using fresh and wholesome ingredients. In under 30 minutes, make them for lunch today.

Pressure Cooker Cuban Black Bean Quinoa Bowls

Do you have a big pot of my Pressure Cooker Cuban Black Beans? Oh, you do, good!!!!

I love, love, love Cuban Food. I grew up with it, how could I not?

Quinoa is something I have struggled to enjoy. So, I set out to create recipes using Quinoa, that are fabulous.

My Instant Pot Chicken Fried Quinoa “Rice”is another delicious Quinoa recipe. 🙂  If you like Quinoa, you will enjoy the recipe.

That being said, Chicken is not my favorite protein and using BBQ Pork for the Fried Quinoa recipe, is a whole other ball of wax….for me! OMG, major yum.

If you are on the fence with Quinoa, I will tell you that my Pressure Cooker Cuban Black Bean Quinoa Bowls will make you a Quinoa lover.

I don’t even miss the rice and now crave Quinoa Bowls.

Grab your Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker and let’s get cooking. A delicious and healthy meal, on your table, in under 30 minutes!

Cast of Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Cuban Black Bean Quinoa Bowls

Cuban Black Beans are my thing and if you have not tried my recipe, you are missing out.

Sure, you can use a couple of cans of Black Beans, if you like but you will probably need to adjust the liquid and then the recipe won’t be CUBAN Black Beans.

If you prefer to use a can of Diced Tomatoes, it is not a problem.

In fact, you can even use a bit tub of Salsa and totally eliminate chopping any vegetables. Just dump it all in to the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker.

I’d love it however, if you would check out my Pressure Cooker Cuban Black Beans recipe, as it is fantastic and super easy to make.

This recipe is mostly a dump and push recipe.

This recipe and other Cuban favorites can be found in my brand new This Old Gal Pressure Cooker Cookbook!

Scrub the Quinoa to Remove Saponin

Why do I need to wash Quinoa?

• Quinoa has a natural coating called Saponin.
• If not rinsed, the Quinoa may taste soapy or bitter.
• Packaged Quinoa may be already pre-washed, but it is still a good idea to give it a good scrubbing.

I usually put the Quinoa into a Medium Mixing Bowl with water and rub the grains between my fingers.

Then pour it through a Fine Mesh Strainer and rinse it off once again.

Prep and Chop up all Vegetables

The first thing to do is to dice up all of the vegetables.

If using Canned Diced Tomatoes, rather than fresh, don’t drain them. Fresh Tomatoes release a ton of liquid and the reason that additional liquid is not added to this recipes.

Don’t be afraid to use Canned Diced Tomatoes instead, as during certain times of the year, Canned Diced Tomatoes are a better option.

If you love “Bowl” type meals, you will enjoy my Pressure Cooker Chicken Taco Bowls and for an easy and delicious sandwich, try my Pressure Cooker Sloppy Joes.

Heat up Pressure Cooker, then add Oil

Whenever you are planning on Browning, Searing or Sautéing using Stainless Steel or Cast Iron, it is essential to first, make sure to completely heat up the pot before adding the Oil to your Cast Iron Skillet, Stainless Steel Cookware or Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker.

Remember Cold Oil, Hot Pot.

This will turn your Stainless Steel Cooking Pot to non-stick.

For this recipe, I am using a very good, Extra Virgin Oil Oil, which I keep in my cute Red Oil Dispenser.

Why did I bring up Cast Iron? Well, if you are fond of Latin food, you have got to try my Pressure Cooker Pork Carnitas {Crispy Mexican Pulled Pork} recipe. It is the best you will find.

Add the Ingredients get added into Pressure Cooker

So, if you are going the Fresh Homemade route, after Sautéing your Aromatics, add in the Seasonings.

What Seasonings are in Black Bean Quinoa Bowls!

• Fresh Garlic
• Ground Cumin
• Sea Salt
• Fresh Lime Juice
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• Fresh Cilantro Leaves
• Bay Leaves

Mix in the liquids and the mix in the Pressure Cooker Cuban Black beans.

Sprinkle the Washed Quinoa over the top.

Quinoa cooks super fast, so it stays on the top, while the Peppers and Onions continue to cook.

If you don’t mind a crunchier Onion or Green Pepper, skip all the Sautéing and just add all the ingredients at once.

The Excess Liquid will be Absorbed Quickly

As you stir and fluff up the Quinoa, it will finish absorbing the liquid.

Instant Pot Cuban Black Bean Quinoa Bowls

Pressure Cooker Cuban Black Bean Quinoa Bowls are perfect for scooping up with Tortilla Chips.

I like to add Avocado Slices and eat them in a big bowl! I cannot wait for you to try this recipe and I hope you will let me know how you enjoyed your meal!

There are many more Cuban recipes to try. How about my Pressure Cooker Cuban Yuca con Mojo or Pasta de Bocaditos? My Air Fryer Cuban Sweet Plantains delicious and much less fat calories than pan frying.

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

• Instant Pot DUO Plus 60
• J.A. Henckels Classic 7-inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
• Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
• Culina Stackable (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
• Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
• di Oro Living Silicone Spatulals Set
• Rachael Ray Stoneware EVOO Oil Dispensing Bottle
• Alpha Armour Salt Box with Spoon
• Gravity Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder
• 6 oz Porcelain Ramekins
• My FANTASTIC Teak Cutting & Charcuterie Board & Compartments
• 3.5 Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
• Fine Mesh Strainer
• Quinoa

Caring is sharing! If you would like to support This Old Gal, please share this recipe on Social Media, so that I can continue to bring you more wonderful recipes! 

If you share a picture of something you make from our blog, tag it with #thisoldgalcooks so we can see it. We might feature it on Instagram! It makes my day when I see you’ve made one of our recipes!

Here is the handy printable recipe:

Pressure Cooker Cuban Black Bean Quinoa Bowl

4.5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Cuban

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 minute

Total Time: 16 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Jill Selkowitz

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 large Yellow/Brown Onion diced
• 1 large Green Pepper diced
• 1 Jalapeño Pepper seeds removed, diced
• 1 pound Fresh or Canned Roma Tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 2 teaspoons Sea Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 1/2 ounce Fresh Cilantro Leaves chopped
• 1 Bay Leaves
• 1 Lime juiced
• 1 pound Cuban Black Beans prepared
• 8 ounces Quinoa washed

Garnish

• 2 Avocados sliced
• 1 Lime cut into wedged

Recommended Products

Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker

Instructions

• Select Sauté or Browning on pressure cooker and allow to fully heat.
• Add oil to cooking pot and swirl to coat bottom of pot.
• Add Onions, Green Peppers, Jalapeño and Sauté for 2 minutes.  Add tomatoes and garlic and cook 1 minute.
• Mix in cumin, salt, pepper, lime juice, cilantro and Bay Leaf.  Then add Black Beans and quinoa on top. Do not stir.
• Lock on Lid and close Pressure Valve. Cook at High Pressure for 1 minute. Wait 10 minutes and then release all pressure.
• Remove Lid and Bay Leaf.  Fluff with a fork.  Serve with lime wedges and avocado slices.

Notes

Quinoa has a bitter soapy layer, called saponin. Place quinoa in a bowl of cold water and wash the seeds with your fingers.  Pour the Quinoa through a strainer to remove the water.

For a Vegan/Vegetarian version, prepare the Cuban Black Beans recipe without the Ham Hock.

If you don't have time to make Homemade Black Beans, then just use canned black beans.

Tried this recipe?Mention @ThisOldGalCooks or tag #thisoldgalcooks!

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Cuban Black Bean Quinoa Bowls