Quinoa Love

I love quinoa and I love porridge... So it won't be a surprise that Quinoa Porridge is regular breakfast for me.

I love it because it tastes great and has all the nutritional 'checks' I need. 

With my dietary requirements, it's a sure fire winner. Plus it keeps me satisfied for hours. Each seed of quinoa contains smart carbs and protein... So this little seed has a strong nutritional punch. It's a winner amongst those wanting a 'Paleo' style diet and those who require a gluten free diet. 

What you see above is my breakfast this morning. Warm, creamy porridge with some lovely fresh peach, blueberries and a sprinkling of cinnamon. You can top it with whatever you have on hand. Here are just a few ideas :

• Grated apple with cinnamon
  
• Date and walnut
• Banana and yoghurt
• Berries and chia seeds
• Poached pear and sunflower seeds
• Prune compote and almonds
• Apricot, coconut and pepitas

My husband thought it looked great... but being my resident 'Heston' he came up with his own version below. A smooth porridge using ground quinoa. He used the coffee grinder to make the quinoa 'fine' before cooking it. It looked a little like a thick yoghurt and we think it would make great baby food! 

---

For those that don't like the texture of quinoa, the ground version might be worth a try! 

Before I pass on his tips let me explain how to make basic quinoa porridge on the stove top or in the microwave. You can tailor this recipe for your own dietary requirements or tastes using any type of milk... Skim, soy, coconut, almond, oat, rice or just water. So when I refer to 'milk' it can be any type of milk or even water.

STOVE TOP: MAKES 3-4 SERVES

Combine 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups milk. Boil gently and let simmer for about 20-25 mins, stirring occasionally to check that it hasn't burned or boiled dry. You will know when it is cooked because it will be translucent and form little tails. Serve with your desired topping. 

MICROWAVE: MAKES 3-4 SERVES

Combine 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups milk. Cook on high for 2-3 mins. Stir and then cook on low for 15mins. You will know when it is cooked because it will be translucent and form little tails. Serve with your desired topping. All microwaves are different, so first time round, keep watch for that translucent look. 

SMOOTH QUINOA: Heston Husband Tips! :)

• Half a cup of ground quinoa goes a long way - easily enough for 2 people
  
• I ground half a cup of quinoa to flour in a coffee/spice "grinder" for about 30 seconds (the type with blades rather than a grinding mechanism)
  
• I added a teaspoon of psyllium husk to the flour for a more porridge-like consistency
  
• Cooking it with soy or cow milk helps to balance out the slightly sappy taste of the quinoa
  
• Other ingredients were walnuts, chopped dried apricots, sunflower and flax seeds, blueberries and peaches, cinnamon
  
• Dates or prunes might be a better flavour match for the quinoa than dried apricots were. 
  
• I left the flaxseed whole for the photo, but would normally grind flax seed up coarsely (5 seconds in the grinder), so that they're digested more easily and don't get stuck in your teeth.
  

So, have a play! Quinoa is such a great little seed and we love it. It is a versatile cooking ingredient (just see my recipe page) and it's very nutritious. 

Share with me your favourite quinoa recipes and tips on Twitter @lise_simpson

Live, love, life...

Lisa xo

---