My grandmother often made cream of wheat when I was a little girl and I loved eating it, topped simply with a sprinkle of brown sugar. Quinoa flakes offer a modern spin on that tasty breakfast with a gluten-free grain that cooks in two quick minutes. It takes almost as long to pour cereal from a box…Well, maybe that is quicker and we certainly do that sometimes, but this option is warm, comforting and has just one ingredient on the label!
Compared to the old days when I topped hot cereals with brown sugar alone, now I load on the toppings. I almost always stir in half a chopped banana for added sweetness and heft. Berries or peaches, when in season, are favorites. And, always, slivered almonds for crunch. (I toast a large amount of almonds at once and store in an airtight container in the fridge.) During the colder months, I like to take about a third of a cup of frozen blueberries, warm them in a small dish in the microwave, then pour over the finished hot cereal. The extra juice that develops as the berries thaw is a tasty bonus.
If you have ever eaten cream of wheat or farina, the texture of quinoa flakes is much the same with the slightly nutty flavor quinoa is known for. I include my favorite ways to dress up this quick-cooking breakfast in the recipe below. I do think that a dusting of sea salt adds the perfect finishing touch and allows a little bit of your favorite sweetener to shine. So you know what to look for if this is a new idea for you, I took a photo of the box, shown below.
Cream of Quinoa
Yields one serving.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup quinoa flakes
- 1 cup milk (regular, almond, coconut, soy all work well)
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Optional add-ins
- A pinch or two of sea or kosher salt
- Honey, maple syrup, stevia, or sweetener of choice
- Slivered almonds, chopped walnuts or pecans
- Sunflower seeds or pepitas
- Chopped bananas, peaches, berries, or fresh fruit of choice
- Raisins, chopped dried apricots, shredded coconut or dried fruit of choice
Instructions
- Bring the milk and the cinnamon to a simmer in a small saucepan. Add the quinoa flakes, and then reduce the heat to low.
- Cook for two minutes or until thickened, adding a little extra milk to thin according to personal preference. Scoop into a bowl and top as desired.
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