Simply Nature Organic 90 Second Quinoa & Brown Rice
Bowl meals have become a staple in my weekly meal plans. There are all kinds of different themes and ways to make bowl meals. You just need a protein, some veggies and/or legumes, preferably some kind of sauce or dressing, and optionally a starch like rice.
We often make burrito bowls. I set out diced and seasoned cooked chicken breasts or pork carnitas, black beans, salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sour cream, and rice. People can customize their bowls with exactly the ingredients they prefer.
Or, I might put out ingredients for Mediterranean bowls with seasoned cooked chicken, diced tomatoes, tzatziki sauce, sliced cucumbers, and rice.
When I need rice for these types of meals, I usually opt for the microwavable pouches Aldi sells. They offer multiple options, including long grain white rice, jasmine rice, basmati rice, Spanish style rice, long grain & wild rice, and whole grain brown rice.
One type I often pick up is this blend of quinoa and brown rice.
Simply Nature Organic 90 Second Quinoa & Brown Rice is a Regular Buy. That means you ought to be able to find it at Aldi all year.
This quinoa & brown rice pouch cost $1.99 for an 8.8-ounce package in 2026. That’s around 23 cents per ounce.
The label indicates this is USDA Organic and is certified organic by Pro-Cert Organic Systems. It’s also non-GMO. It’s a products of Canada.
Nutrition Facts & Ingredients:
This contains water, organic long grain brown rice, organic red quinoa, organic olive oil, organic garlic powder, and salt.
One pouch is technically one serving, but I get at least a couple of servings out of this when I serve it as a side. The entire pouch/one serving (250 grams) has 400 calories, 6 grams of total fat (8% DV), no saturated fat, 540 mg of sodium (23% DV), 82 grams of total carbohydrates (30% DV), 4 grams of dietary fiber (14% DV), 3 grams of total sugars, no added sugars, and 9 grams of protein.
Alternatively, the nutrition panel also lists numbers if you only eat a 1-cup serving (140 grams). One cup has 230 calories, 3.5 grams of total fat (4% DV), no saturated fat, 310 mg of sodium (13% DV), 47 grams of total carbohydrates (17% DV), 3 grams of dietary fiber (11% DV), 2 grams of total sugars, no added sugars, and 5 grams of protein.
Heating Instructions:
The package has directions for heating this in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove.
To microwave, squeeze the pouch to separate the grains. At either the top right or top left notch of the pouch, tear partially across the top for venting. Stand the pouch with the opening toward the top of the microwave and heat on high for 90 seconds. Be careful when handling the hot pouch.
To heat on the stove, squeeze the pouch to separate the grains. Open the pouch and pour the contents into a skillet. Add 2 tablespoons of water and heat. Stir occasionally until thoroughly heated and serve.
I’ve always microwaved this. However, I don’t like microwaving plastic pouches. I pour the rice and quinoa into a glass bowl and microwave it in that. I still heat it for 90 seconds and it comes out great.
How It Tastes:
This tastes good. The rice and quinoa are mild, and they’re accented by just a bit of garlic, olive oil, and salt. This is a nice base for a lot of dishes, whether you’re serving it alongside some chicken breasts or a pork chop or whether you’re incorporating it into a bowl meal like we like to do.
Could I make this for less money by purchasing uncooked quinoa and brown rice and preparing it with my own seasonings? Sure. But you can’t beat these pouches for convenience. They’re especially nice when I’m not quite sure how much rice I need for a family dinner, since it’s quick and easy to heat an extra pouch when needed. They’re also easy for kids to heat.
The Verdict:
Simply Nature Organic 90 Second Quinoa & Brown Rice is a flavorful mix that heats fast in the microwave and works well as a side dish or as a component for meals like casseroles or bowls. Recommended.
