Now that it’s getting chillier outside, I’m starting to crave warmer and heartier breakfasts.
This porridge is a filling and delicious breakfast option featuring quinoa, a gluten-free “pseudograin” that’s technically a seed, but is prepared like a grain. Quinoa is high in fiber and contains all of the essential amino acids, making it an excellent source of protein. Paired with pumpkin, which is a great source of vitamin A, and cinnamon, which is thought to help regulate blood sugar, this recipe is satisfying and loaded with all of the Fall flavors I love!
If you’ve ever tasted quinoa on its own, you may find it a tad bitter, which doesn’t make for a tasty breakfast cereal. The key, as I recently found out from some of my Instagram friends, is to soak it first. Soaking the dry quinoa in water ahead of time completely removes the bitterness, and also makes it easier to digest! So, don’t be tempted to skip this crucial step, like I did the first time around.
This quinoa porridge is a lot like traditional oatmeal– you really can’t mess it up– so don’t be afraid to customize the recipe below to suit your own tastes!
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Quinoa Pumpkin Porridge
Serves 2
Ingredients:
1 cup dry quinoa, soaked in water for up to 24 hours
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch of ground cloves
3 to 4 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Directions:
Cover the dry quinoa with water and allow it to sit and soak on the counter for at least one hour. You are welcome to soak the quinoa longer, even overnight or up to 24 hours, but in that case you’ll want to store the soaking quinoa in the fridge. Drain the soaked quinoa and rinse well with fresh water. (The soaked quinoa may look like it has “sprouted” but that’s really just the germ detaching.)
Place the drained quinoa in a 2-quart saucepan over the stove and add 1 3/4 cup water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low, allowing the quinoa to cook for 15 minutes, or until all of the liquid has been absorbed.
Stir in the pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and maple syrup and adjust the flavors to taste, if necessary. Serve warm with any additional toppings you like!
Quinoa Pumpkin Porridge
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry quinoa , soaked in water for up to 24 hours
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- Pinch of ground cloves
- 3 to 4 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Cover the dry quinoa with water and allow it to sit and soak on the counter for at least one hour. You are welcome to soak the quinoa longer, even overnight or up to 24 hours, but in that case you'll want to store the soaking quinoa in the fridge. Drain the soaked quinoa and rinse well with fresh water. Place the drained quinoa in a 2-quart saucepan over the stove and add 1 3/4 cup water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low, allowing the quinoa to cook for 15 minutes, or until all of the liquid has been absorbed.
- Stir in the pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and maple syrup and adjust the flavors to taste, if necessary. Serve warm!
Nutrition
Notes:
- For a creamier pudding, replace the water with coconut or almond milk.
- Feel free to replace the maple syrup with any sweetener of your choice, such as honey, coconut nectar, or stevia. Just taste it as you go!
Hope you enjoy!
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Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite Fall breakfast?
I’m definitely trying this for breakfast tomorrow and I think I’ll add some organic raisins too!!
Hi,
This sounds great. Is “dry” quinoa different than most packaged quinoa in boxes or pouches on the shelf? I normally would just rinse & cook straight out of the package, for about that same time, so I’m curious about the soaking. Can you clarify?
Thanks!
Jen
What a warm, hearty spin on breakfast. After a while I get so bored with scrambled eggs.
And pumpkin is so good for you, and that cinnamon. I’ve dealt with hyperglycemia my whole life and in high school, my primary DR. said, just make sure you always carry a candy bar with you when your blood sugar drops so you don’t pass out. So I listened. Bad advice. Now, I avoid processed foods/sugars and actually feel better than my sluggish self in high school! And, I’ve noticed over the years, if you incorporate cinnamon early in the day, like before noon, it regulates my sugar all day — and keeps me from craving too much sugar the rest of the day. So if I start my day with a breakfast like this, I eat better the rest of the day. Win-Win!
Wow, such amazing recipes!! Thank you and God bless!
I love quinoa for breakfast! I usually make a huge batch of it cooked in just water and then add in anything for any meal, sweet or savory.
Or instead of soaking the quinoa – you can just rinse it – rubbing it a bit between your fingers – gets the bitter outer coating off.
YUM – quinoa and cinnamon, cloves and ginger with maple syrup in porridge form sounds BRILLIANT!
I can’t wait to give this a try as soon as I get done traveling for the week. I was actually just wondering about using quinoa as a breakfast grain and how I would tame the flavor a bit. Thanks for the tip!
Happy Wednesday!
http://www.playingforeats.com | Carly
I have been loving my grain free coconut instant porridge – warm goodness ready in minutes – but def need to get hold of some pumpkin so I go pumpkin mad!
This is genius!
This looks really good, Megan! Thanks for sharing! Do you think babies under 1 year of age could eat quinoa, or do you think it’s better to wait until later?
I have never had to soak my quinoa. It has never been bitter either. I cook it in my vitaclay. It takes about 20 minutes and it comes out delicious and fluffy.
This recipe is excellent. I’ve made it twice since discovering it this week. I didn’t have any cloves, but included the rest of the ingredients and it tastes delish!
I definitely want to try this! 🙂 I love pumpkin oatmeal, so I bet I would love pumpkin quinoa!
I’d use a tiny bit less ginger and go for nutmeg instead but that’s just me 🙂 I made it just like it said and it was awesome!!! First time ever trying quinoa like this. I felt so dumb not knowing the part about rinsing/soaking it before cooking and it worked perfectly!
I’ll try this this weekend & might even add some dried cranberries and some nuts for crunch.It sounds yummy. Thanks
Hi. I just found your site last week and have been enjoying the chai pudding almost every day. I love it. Thank you. I can’t wait to try some of your salads.
Is there a way to make this into a muffin?
I just made this. Delicious.
Does this work of you make it in bulk for the week? (Still tastes good 3 days later?). Thanks!