Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
A warm, creamy quinoa bowl topped with tender cinnamon apples and a drizzle of honey. The apples cook down into a soft, tangy compote that soaks into the quinoa for a comforting high-protein breakfast.
- Total
- 30 min
- Prep 5 · Cook 20 · Rest 5
- Serves
- 1
- Difficulty
- Easy
You'll practice: Simmering · Sautéing
- Sweet
- Stovetop
Instructions
-
Put 60 g quinoa in a fine sieve and rinse under cold running water for 30 seconds to remove the bitter coating. Drain well.
~1 min
Rinsing removes saponin, a bitter compound that can make quinoa taste soapy.
Rinsing quinoa under cold water for 30 seconds removes the saponin coating that makes it taste soapy, so do not skip this step even if the package says pre-rinsed.
-
Combine the rinsed quinoa, 200 ml milk, 100 ml water and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then cover and cook until the quinoa is tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed, about 15 minutes. If it is still crunchy, add 2 tbsp hot water, cover and steam 3 more minutes off the heat.
~15 min
Simmering allows the quinoa to absorb liquid slowly, resulting in tender, fluffy grains.
Simmering Keep the liquid at a gentle simmer, not a boil, to avoid scorching. Watch for tender grains and absorbed liquid.
-
While step 2 cooks
While the quinoa simmers, core and dice 1 apple into 1 cm pieces. Put them in a small non-stick pan over medium heat with 0.25 tsp cinnamon. Cook, stirring, until the apple is soft and lightly golden at the edges, 6 to 8 minutes.
~8 min
Cooking the apple with cinnamon softens it and concentrates its natural sugars for a compote.
Sautéing Stir the apples frequently over medium heat to prevent sticking and promote even browning. They should soften and turn golden at the edges.
-
Stir 1 tbsp honey and the remaining 0.25 tsp cinnamon into the apple and cook 1 more minute until glossy and syrupy. Remove from the heat.
~1 min
Honey adds sweetness and helps create a glossy syrup that coats the apples.
-
Fluff the cooked quinoa with a spoon and spoon it into a bowl. Top with the warm cinnamon apple compote and any syrup from the pan.
~1 min
-
Let the bowl stand 5 minutes so the quinoa absorbs the apple juices, then eat warm.
~5 min
Resting lets the quinoa absorb the apple juices, making the bowl more flavorful and moist.