Breakfast Quinoa Porridge Bowl
Quinoa is a very healthy superfood, it’s a seed (not a grain!) that we all need to eat more of. It’s packed with plant-based protein, minerals, and nutrients. So if you’re getting bored of oatmeal for breakfast every morning, then quinoa porridge is a must try! This porridge is perfect for meal prep, make a large batch and have it in the mornings throughout the week. All you’ll have to do is add milk, and your favorite toppings and you’re good to go! Enjoy quinoa for lunch or dinner too with my garlic shrimp quinoa recipe.
What is Quinoa
Quinoa is a seed, not a grain that comes in 3 varieties; white, red, and black. It got very popular in the past decade or so and became one of our healthiest pantry items, and has a nutty taste. Quinoa is packed with plant-based protein, iron, magnesium, and fiber, and it’s really easy to cook. Add it to your buddha bowls, salads, porridge, to replace rice, to make veggie cakes, and more! I have a full tutorial on how to cook fluffy quinoa every time, so make sure to check it out.
How to Cook Quinoa
Quinoa can be bitter sometimes, and to get rid of the bitterness of the saponin (natural coating), always remember to rinse the quinoa under running water before cooking. Because quinoa seeds are so small, use a fine sieve to rinse it. The rule of thumb is 1 cup of quinoa needs 1 and half cups of water. So it’s a 1:1.5 ratio, and yields 3 cups of cooked quinoa (about 6 portions). To a saucepan, add water and bring to a boil. When it starts boiling, add the quinoa and turn down the heat to the lowest setting possible, then leave it to cook covered for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and let it rest for 5 more minutes covered. And finally, remove the lid and fluff with a fork! You can also cook quinoa in the Instant Pot, I have the recipe for you if you prefer to use the pressure cooker instead of cooking it over the stovetop.
How to Make Quinoa Porridge
To make quinoa porridge, combine about half a cup of quinoa with 1 cup or less of milk in a bowl. You can sweeten it with maple syrup or your favorite sweetener, and top with fresh fruit, seeds, and nuts. I like to keep a container with cooked quinoa in my fridge that I cook on the weekend, to enjoy throughout the week and I often cook quinoa when I do meal prep then use it to make quinoa porridge, add it to salads, buddha bowls, etc. For more healthy breakfast ideas, check out my buckwheat porridge recipe (my favorite breakfast!), creamy cornmeal porridge, and peanut butter granola. © Little Sunny Kitchen
