Breakfast Quinoa | The Gracious Pantry | Clean Eating Recipes (2024)

This breakfast quinoa recipe is the perfect breakfast for breaking your morning oatmeal rut!

A good quinoa breakfast bowl is a great start to the morning. Quinoa bowls are full of plant-based protein and, if topped with superfoods, are an incredibly nutritious start to the day!

You could also refer to this as “quinoa porridge” or a breakfast quinoa bowl. But no matter what you call it, it’s delicious, healthy, and totally customizable to your liking!

Is It OK To Eat Quinoa For Breakfast?

Goodness, yes! In fact, I believe it to be the superior breakfast grain. Why? Because quinoa contains all nine essential amino acids. So you are getting complete protein with every bite!

And yes, I called it a grain. Quinoa is normally talked about as if it’s a whole grain. But the truth is, it’s actually a seed. And it’s great for either a sweet breakfast or for savory breakfasts. It’s versatile stuff. Simply make a big batch and eat off of it all week, varying toppings and flavors as you go.

Is It OK To Eat Quinoa Every Day?

Definitely!! As with anything, you’ll want to enjoy it in moderation. But a daily dose of quinoa is never a bad thing! (Unless you’re allergic…)

Is Oatmeal Or Quinoa Better For You?

Let’s compare! For one cup of each, the data shows this:

• Oats
  – Calories: 166
  – Carbs: 28 g
  – Fiber: 4 g
  – Protein: 6 g
  – Fat: 3.6 g
• Quinoa
  
• – Calories: 222
  – Carbs: 40 g
  – Fiber: 5.2 g
  – Protein: 8.2 g
  – Fat: 3.6 g

So you can see the two foods offer tradeoffs. But quinoa has an edge, and the secret is in its protein content. While oatmeal has protein as well, it does not contain all nine amino acids to create a whole, plant-based protein. Quinoa does! So if you’re plant-based, quinoa is the way to go.

Can Quinoa Be Eaten Cold?

You betcha! Warm or cold, this delicious grain (actually, it’s really a seed) pairs well with sweet or savory ingredients. It’s quite versatile!

What Is The Ratio Of Water To Quinoa?

It’s a 2:1 ratio. So if you are making 1 cup of dry quinoa, you’ll want 2 cups of water.

Why Does Quinoa Taste Bitter?

Quinoa can taste very bitter if not handled properly. Thankfully, there is an easy fix. Rinse your quinoa!! Yep, just put your dry quinoa in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse the heck out of it. Even boxes that say “pre-washed” should still be rinsed to ensure you don’t get that bitter taste. Rinse it well, and you’ll have a delicious, non-bitter bowl of quinoa!

If you’d like to learn more about quinoa and all its benefits, check out this video on Youtube here.

What Else Can I Put On Breakfast Quinoa?

All of the following will go well with the flavor of quinoa for breakfast, though not necessarily with this recipe. There are many ways to make quinoa breakfast recipes. You just have to pick what you like best in the combinations you like best, much like you would with oatmeal.

• Chocolate chips
• Veggies such as spinach or tomatoes.
• Avocado
• Peppers
• Blueberries or any type of berries
• Peanut Butter
• Hemp seeds
• Chia seeds
• Walnuts
• Pecans

Dietary Adjustments

Vegan – This recipe is naturally vegan. There are no animal products called for.

Gluten-free – Everything in this recipe is naturally gluten-free. So the only thing you have to watch for is to be sure the vanilla extract and the quinoa are gluten-free when you buy them.

Sugar-Free – You can certainly omit the maple syrup and just use fresh fruit as your sweetener. Other options include monk fruit or other alternative sweeteners if you use them.

About The Ingredients

Quinoa– dry/uncooked. You can also use tri-color quinoa if you prefer that.

Unsweetened almond milk – Or any milk you prefer.

Water – Use good quality, filtered water.

Banana

Ground cinnamon

Pure vanilla extract

Almonds– raw almonds are the best nutritionally. But slivered or sliced almonds taste best.

Maple syrup– To taste. You can also use honey.

How To Make Breakfast Quinoa?

Gather all the needed ingredients. Measure and prep as needed.

Mash a ripe banana in the bottom of a small saucepan.

To the pot, add milk and water, vanilla, and cinnamon. Bring to a soft boil and add Quinoa.

Cook quinoa uncovered, at a simmer, until the water cooks out and you see translucent edges on the individual grains.

Serve topped with maple syrup and almonds.

Storage

Store this in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freezing

This will freeze well if you keep the banana out of it. Otherwise, it will turn color in the freezer. This does not mean it went bad. It’s just the normal darkening of the banana. So it’s up to you. But if you do freeze it, pack it well.

Reheating Breakfast Quinoa

Thaw in the fridge for 24 hours if frozen. From there, you can microwave it for 1-2 minutes or add a little extra milk to heat it up in a pot on a stovetop.

Recipe Supplies For Breakfast Quinoa

More Healthy Breakfast Recipes

• The Oatmeal Project – 365 ways to top your oatmeal (almost)
• Lemon Porridge
  

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Breakfast Quinoa Recipe Card

Recipe from the Gracious Pantry® archives, originally posted on 4/21/10.