Start your day with this simple Fruit and Nut Quinoa Breakfast Bowl and you’ll have the energy to make it to lunchtime without snacking! This healthy breakfast recipe is great change of pace from the usual bowl of oatmeal. It's easy to make, and it's vegan and gluten-free.
Fruit and Nut Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
This quinoa breakfast bowl is one of those simple recipes that I’ve been making for years. I often give it to my health coaching clients when discussing whole grains or when talking about breakfast options. I prefer it over oatmeal, which I find a little mushy for my tastes. It's perfect way to use leftover quinoa that’s hanging out in the fridge. I often make a big batch of it on Mondays and use it for meals throughout the week.
How to Make A Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
This recipe couldn't be easier to make!
- First you add all of the ingredients except the fruit and maple syrup to a in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. You cook everything, stirring occasionally, until the grains soften and the fruit plumps up, about 10 minutes.
- Then you divide the quinoa among 4 bowls, drizzle on the maple syrup, and top with the fresh berries.
This dish is easy to make, so it’s perfect for busy weekday mornings. It reheats well, so you can make a big batch of it on Sunday evening and have it for breakfast throughout the week.
How to Customize Your Breakfast Bowl
You can customize this recipe to suit your tastes or your pantry contents really easily!
- Use your favorite type of nut, such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts.
- You can use any type of seed that you like, such as pumpkin, sunflower, hemp, or flax.
- Any type of dried fruit can be used. Try cherries, blueberries, or cranberries.
- Vary the fresh berries you use. It's great with blueberries, raspberries, blackberries or strawberries – or a mix of all four!
- If you don't have leftover quinoa on hand, you can use any type of whole grain. Try brown rice, millet, or amaranth.
- Feel free to vary the spices used, too. You can use pumpkin pie spice in the fall or allspice and nutmeg in the winter.
What is Quinoa?
Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is an ancient grain from South America. Well, strictly speaking, it's not really a grain but a seed. It's actually classified as a pseudo-cereal.
There are three main types of quinoa: red, white, and black. Unlike with rice, the different types of colored quinoa don't have different nutritional profiles. You can often find all three together in a mix.
How to Cook Quinoa
Whenever I cook grains like quinoa or brown rice, I like to make extra and freeze it, so it’s ready when I am. I almost always have a cooked bowl of quinoa on hand in the fridge or freezer.
Quinoa has a naturally occurring bitter outer coating called saponin. You should rinse your quinoa before cooking it to remove the saponin.
Quinoa uses a 1:2 ratio with water. So, if you need to cook the quinoa to make this recipe, you’ll need 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of water. Combine quinoa and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and let it simmer for 15 minutes or until all water has been absorbed. Then remove it from the heat and let it stand for about 5 minutes. Fluff it with a fork, and you’re ready to go!
Fruit and Nut Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tablespoons chopped nuts such as almonds, pecans, or walnuts
- 2 tablespoons seeds such as pumpkin, sunflower, or hemp
- 2 tablespoons dried fruit such as raisins, dried cranberries, or dried blueberries
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoon real maple syrup
- ½ cup fresh berries such as blueberries or strawberries
Instructions
- Place the quinoa, almond milk, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, cinnamon, and ginger in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Cook until the grains soften and the fruit plumps up, about 10 minutes.
- Top with a drizzle of maple syrup and the frest berries. Serve hot.
Other breakfast recipes you might enjoy include:
- Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal
- Apple Pie Oatmeal
- Cherry Chocolate Overnight Oats
- Overnight Oats with Mixed Berries and Chia
- Almond Joy Chia Pudding
Other quinoa recipes you might enjoy include:
- Spicy Stuffed Peppers
- Super Quinoa Burgers
- Peanutty Thai Quinoa Salad
- Burrito Bowl
- Quinoa and Kale Bowl
- Double Broccoli Quinoa Salad
Becky Striepe
Oh my goodness, this looks so good! I love savory quinoa, and yours looks so hearty and comforting for a chilly morning!
Dianne
Thank you, Becky!
Mel | avirtualvegan.com
I always end up cooking too much quinoa for dinner and often use up leftovers in a similar way to this for breakfast. I've done it with millet too. Its so delicious, and quick and easy and keeps you full for so long.
Dianne
I've got some millet in the pantry – I need to to try it with that next!
Linda @ Veganosity
I love grains for breakfast, and quinoa is the perfect way to start the day. Love the toppings and the flavors!
Millie Torres
tomorrow's breakfast for sure...thank you.
Dianne
Thank you, Linda!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
Looks delicious, Dianne! I'll definitely be making this very soon!
Dianne
Thanks, Amy! I hope you enjoy it.
Sarah
Ooh, I love quinoa for breakfast! Such a good way to start the day!
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite
Looks like such a hearty bowl! Nice change from the regular oatmeal!
Alisa Fleming
It's probably been years since I've had quinoa for breakfast - thank you for the reminder! I love the way you infused maple, ginger AND cinnamon in this.
Dianne
My pleasure, Alisa!
Dianne
Thanks, Sophia!
Dianne
I agree!
Sina @Vegan Heaven
This will make an amazing breakfast! I love all the healthy ingredients. 🙂
Dianne
Thank you, Sina!
The Vegan 8
I love that you added ginger and several nuts! 2 of my favorite things in oatmeal. I'm not really a quinoa person but I'm sure this would be equally as delicious with oats. What a wonderful recipe!
Dianne
Thanks, Brandi! It would work with just about any grain.
Rutger
Hi Dianne, awesome recipe, looks like a million bucks. Just one question. In your instructions ypu write "Place the quinoa, almond milk, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, cinnamon, and ginger in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Cook until the grains soften and the fruit plumps up, about 10 minutes." By grains you mean the quinoa? But isn't the quinoa already soft because it's already cooked?
Dianne
Thank you, Rutger! Yes, by grains I do mean quinoa, and yes, they do get cooked again. It helps soften them even more. Enjoy!