Breakfast Quinoa. {Video!}
There is a time and a place for breakfast quinoa.
And I’m here to tell you that the time and the place is prooooobably the morning after you’ve judged a dessert competition.
Did you know that you can make a gin and tonic cake? Because I didn’t. Until last night, when I ate some, and it tasted EXACTLY like a gin and tonic. And it had gin in it. And it’s sort of all I can think about right now (probably because of the gin) but instead I’m eating quinoa.
Could my life be any more boring? I wish I was eating and drinking gin for breakfast.
But alas… I am not.
After eating eggs (poached, fried, scrambled, hard-boiled – you name it) every morning for MONTHS, I’m moving on. Well, actually I’m now eating the eggs (poached, fried, scrambled, hard-boiled – you name it) for lunch, but whatev. New breakfasts = something to wake up for.
A few weeks ago I came home from a morning workout and was craving cereal like a mad woman. We didn’t have any cereal and while I have no problem venturing to the grocery store six times a day (it’s the only sort of life I have), I needed food NOW. Or then. Whatever. I just wanted some sort of stuff sitting in a bowl of milk that had some crunch.
I made quinoa cooked in coconut milk, added a ton of vanilla and cinnamon, then covered it in fruit and almonds. I was completely fanatic about the texture, but not only that: it kept me full FOR-EV-ER. Like forever, Sandlot style. Since then, I’ve been making obsessive combinations of assorted fruit and nuts, and this is currently my favorite. Toasted pecans, chopped bananas and heaven. It’s all in that bowl down there.
I also like to add a bunch of grape nuts but my 74-year old self finished the box two days ago. The key is in the crunch people. You must have crunch.
I mean, it’s not gin… but it works.
Coconut Milk Breakfast Quinoa
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dry quinoa rinsed
- 3/4 cup canned lite coconut milk + more for drizzling
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon + more for sprinkling
- pinch of salt
- 1 banana, chopped
- 1/3 cup toasted pecans, chopped
Instructions
- Combine quinoa, coconut milk, cinnamon and vanilla in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and let cook for 15 minutes until quinoa can be fluffed with a fork.
- Divide quinoa into two bowls then cover with bananas, pecans, and a few extra drizzles of coconut milk.
- Note: you can definitely use full-fat coconut milk... I use Trader Joe's lite coconut milk which is insanely creamy and resembles full-fat coconut milk. If I used another brand, I'd probably use full-fat. Additionally, feel free to add sugar or sweetener if needed. I (shockingly) find it sweet enough with the coconut milk and fruit.
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
As soon as breakfast is over though: gin. I’ll share.
240 Comments on “Breakfast Quinoa. {Video!}”
YUM! I SO want this for breakfast this morning, but sadly I don’t have all of the ingredients. I hate it when that happens!
Quinoa really can be good for breakfast but usually I am way too lazy for that. And if I went to the supermarket any more often my car would drive itself there.
Yum! that looks great! Is there anything that can be subbed for coconut milk? My DH hates it! Do you think almond milk would work?
Yep!
what about regular old cows milk? or would that be too thin?
If you go with that I probably would use at least 2% and you may need some brown sugar or honey, etc. It’s just not really as creamy as almond or coconut milk!
okay thats what i figured :) maybe i’ll just buy some almond milk. thanks so much!
I feel like I’m at someone else’s blog. Breakfast quinoa?! I think I have tears in my eyes.
Love quinoa for breakfast! I often cook huge batches of it and freeze it in small portions. Thaws quickly and then it is easier to use for things like this, or quinoa pancakes (my favorite!). Because I’m too lazy at breakfast too…I need food in my belly as soon as I roll outta bed.
Isn’t it wonderful when you body craves something hardcore and you want nothing more than to have it NOW! …..I’m talking about the gin— and the cereal you were craving after your work out! ;)
Yum! I made Quinoa bake for the first time last week, which was the first time I ever had quinoa and I was surprised how good it was. It’s really nutty! Your recipe looks amazing as usual! I’ll have to try yours this weekend!! Have a lovely day!
just what i mutha*bleepin* needed!!!! thanks will be making this for the husband!
I have been WAITING for this!ANNNNNND I know what my first coconut flavored something adventure will be. WOOO! Breakfast tomorrow. Yes please and Thank you
This sounds delicious! Yum!
This looks delicious, a great alternative to my morning oatmeal!
I’m so making this. It looks delicious! I’ve never had quinoa for breakfast. Have no idea what it is, but I’m going to quickly find out. Thank you for the recipe!!!
Too funny, I just made this yesterday for breakfast to feature on my blog! I used strawberries. Love the touch of coconut milk!
hmmm i love all the flavors in there….but what does quinoa taste like?
hmmm I’m not sure how to explain it, maybe almost like a brown rice? I’ve heard it can be bitter (that’s why you rinse it) but I’ve never experienced that. I think the key is mixing a lot of things in with it. I have a bunch of savory quinoa recipes in the side dish section of my recipes!
Looks amazing! I’ve been wanting to try quinoa for breakfast but there hasn’t been a recipe that caught my eye – until now. :)
I LOVE quinoa for breakfast! It’s a great change from oats and really is good hot or cold. This looks so up my alley! The addition of coconut milk is pure perfection!
I am on my way over for breakfast!
I love this. After way too many cupcakes this week, I needed a healthy breakfast to start my day today. Now I know what I will be having!
I’ve never cooked quinoa, but I think this might be a good recipe to start with … anything with banana, vanilla, and cinnamon has to be good!! ;)
Looks delicious! I’ve got quinoa on my grocery list for later today so I’ll have to whip some up for my Friday morning breakfast tomorrow!
that looks so good!
Well well, I just happen to have all of those ingredients on hand….what EVER will I do with them?
That looks so good! I haven’t loved quinoa in the past but I need to try this!
Oh, geez, does this ever look perfect. I even have the tri-color quinoa – schwing!
Love quinoa! What kind are you using that it is so colorful? Is this the multicolored one from Trader Joe’s? If so, does it taste any different? I am new to quinoa, so I went with the regular, but it doesn’t always look great! I am definitely going to have to start making this for breakfast!
Yep, it’s the tri-color blend from TJs! And it tastes the same as the plain stuff. :)
i appreciate your shout-out to grape nuts. i, too, love them and have faced ridicule from most of my friends for it. but you know what? you can’t beat the crunch of grape nuts in a breakfast parfait or with the soggy texture of raisin bran. boom.
They are the crunchiest thing ever.
Isn’t breakfast quinoa amazing?! It’s actually my favorite way to eat quinoa. Try caramelized bananas on top…oh my word.
Yesss, I flipping love quinoa for breakfast. And totally agreed–the crunch is essential. I sometimes add dry cereal or granola to my oatmeal for that very reason. Nom.
yum! I have been meaning to try quinoa for breakfast, this looks perfect! One critique, those spoons are waaaay too small for how good that must be. :)
i’m so glad to run into someone who goes to the grocery store with the same frequency as me–sometimes it is totally the highlight of my day, and next time my partner and i move we are planning to keep an appropriately tiny distance between us and our beloved coop ;)
Pleeeaase tell me there is a place in Pittsburgh that makes bowls like this. I miss this place http://www.backyardbowls.com/ so so so much.
Um that looks amazing, and unfortunately I don’t think so.
I was hoping you would share your breakfast quinoa recipe. I absolutely love quinoa, coconut milk and of course great textures. I’ve heard of people having quinoa for breakfast but I just couldn’t imagine it. You have showed me the light. :) Ha ha…thanks!
Looks delicious!! I’d wake up for that!
This looks fantastic! I also love the idea of adding Grape Nuts, but I’m also a bit of a 74 year-old :) I bet you could make this ahead of time and reheat it the next morning too!
Did you use a white and red quinoa mix?
Nope this quinoa is the tri-color blend from Trader Joe’s – but you could definitely use a mix if you wanted.
Love the tri-color quinoa & that you cooked it in coconut milk. We eat a lot of oatmeal in our house, I should switch it up & have this instead!!
Coconut milk has magical properties of making any grain just taste…better! I make rice pudding with it and this is so clever to use it for quinoa. Yum!
I love breakfast quinoa! It is so filling and you can basically do whatever you want with it. :) Love the different colors of your quinoa.
I love love LOVE breakfast quinoa. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
I was just looking for a recipe to use quinoa as a breakfast food! I definitely need to try this.
I’m obsessed with quinoa but somehow (?) have never tried it at breakfast! Totally giving this a shot.
I think judging a dessert competition is anything BUT boring! And I am totally lovin’ this breakfast quinoa! I too get stuck in a boring breakfast rut (that is if I even remember breakfast!). I am going to get everything to make this when I head out on my daily grocery store excursion so that I can eat this for breakfast tomorrow (or maybe snack today)!
i’m always looking for new things to do with quinoa and this is perfect! this could definitely become a part of my breakfast rotation.
You must, Must, MUST share a Gin and Tonic cake recipe… Must. Please. :)
When you mentioned this the other day I was wondering what it was all about! Looks so good and protein packed!
LOVE this. I feel like it would be such a great fall breakfast with cinnamon, apples and walnuts.
That looks amazingly, insanely, delicious, and healthy. Mmmm.
That quiona is so pretty! I had my first attempt at a quiona recipe in my last blog post–it’s okaaay but I still need to be convinced. I LOVE coconut though, so I should try this!
Yum! My mom makes a similar quinoa cereal with the coconut milk but she tops it with a poached egg, so good!
this sounds so good…and i have to say, every morning i look in the fridge and see beer staring back at me. that’s a wholesome breakfast, no? :)
Jessica this breakfast is strange: no bacon, nu butter!!! LOL I am just teasing you, looks delicious and healthy!! I love anything (almost) that has coconut!