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Alluring Quinoa Breakfast Recipes

Ningthoujam Sandhyarani
Nutritious quinoa breakfast can be made in several different ways which requires just three basic steps: boiling, absorbing water, and steaming. Read more to know how to make sweet or sour quinoa or quinoa salads for breakfast.
Not many of us know proper quinoa cooking instructions. This is the main reason it remains as a not-so-common grain in our kitchens. However, this false cereal (pseudo-cereal) is loaded with a high amount of proteins, accounting to about 12-18% of the total weight.
Besides protein, it is rich in dietary fiber, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus, and its gluten-free nature makes it an excellent grain for people having gluten indigestion problems. It has a mild taste with a slight nutty flavor. Overall, quinoa is a good protein source for vegetarians. Take a look at various ways of quinoa preparations.

Quinoa Breakfast Ideas
The most common method of preparing quinoa is boiling it with water and simmering till the grain turns light and fluffy. However, it is very versatile and you can add your favorite ingredients to make yummy vegan quinoa breakfast.
Before actually cooking, you need to remove saponins by soaking grains in water for a few hours. After that, rinse soaked quinoa grains several times under running water. You can skip this preparatory step of soaking and rinsing grains if you purchase box quinoa that is a bit costlier. Following are some healthy quinoa breakfast recipes, which you can try.

Quinoa Cereal
Ingredients:
  • Quinoa, 1 cup (washed and rinsed)
  • Apple, ½ cup (thinly sliced)
  • Seedless raisin, ⅓ cup
  • Milk, 1 cup
  • Honey, ½ cup
  • Water, 2 cups
  • Cinnamon, ½ tsp.
Directions for Preparation:
Prepare quinoa by soaking and rinsing for 2 - 3 times. Place it in a saucepan and add water. Cook it on high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover lid and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in apples, seedless raisins and cinnamon. Simmer for another 10 minutes or until water is absorbed completely. Serve it with milk and honey.

Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:
  • Quinoa, 1 cup (washed and rinsed)
  • Carrot, 1 (peeled, cut into strips)
  • Red cabbage, 1 oz. (chopped)
  • Red pepper, 0.7 ounce (chopped)
  • Garlic sprouts, as required
  • Lettuce leaves, 3 (chopped)
  • Vegetable broth, 2 cups
  • Olive oil, 1 tbsp.
Directions for Preparation:
In a saucepan, boil broth at a high heat and add quinoa. Stir well and reduce heat to medium low. Cook for 20 minutes and keep aside while keeping it covered.
Take a bowl and combine together carrot stripes, cabbage, pepper and lettuce. To this, stir and add cooked quinoa. Then, add garlic sprouts and olive oil. Toss well and serve.

Quinoa with Blackberries

Ingredients:
  • Organic quinoa, 1 cup (soaked and rinsed)
  • Fresh blackberries, 2 cups (preferably organic)
  • Low-fat milk, 1 cup
  • Water, 1 cup
  • Pecans, ⅓ cup (chopped, toasted)
  • Organic agave nectar, 4 tsp.
  • Ground cinnamon, ½ tsp.
Directions for Preparation:
In a large saucepan, pour milk and water, and then add rinsed quinoa. Keep it over high heat and bring to a boiling temperature. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 15 minutes with the lids on. By this time, the grains will absorb the liquid mixture and turn soft.
While retaining the lid, remove the saucepan from heat and allow it to settle down for 5 minutes. Stir in blackberries and cinnamon to the cooked quinoa. With a spoon, transfer it in serving bowls. Garnish with chopped pecans and a teaspoon of agave nectar.
Making quinoa breakfast is more or less similar to that of rice recipes. Whether to make sweet or spicy quinoa is up to you. You can add different fruits, fish and meat pieces. In all recipes, one thing is for sure―you are serving wholesome food loaded with nutrients to your family.