While there are many awesome things about blogging, one of the best things is being able to connect with people who share similar passions as I do whether that be photography, cooking, or food advocacy. Before I moved across the country, I knew I wanted to get back over to Indy and visit Sonja and Alex. It's always so much fun cooking and brainstorming with them!
While there was lots of creativity flowing this weekend, one of my favorite things we created was a granola made from uncooked quinoa. It had such a lovely crispness to it and clumped together really well.
We used the quinoa granola to garnish a lovely soup (which will be on their blog soon) but I wanted to adapt it to something a bit more sweeter using maple syrup, cinnamon, and pecans, perfect for topping yogurt.
This granola is perfect if you are looking to switch up the oat-granola routine and can be adapted for whatever nuts and seeds you have on hand.
Maple-Cinnamon Quinoa Granola
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
Ingredients
- ¾ cups quinoa (red, black, yellow, or a mix)
- ½ chopped pecans
- ½ cup sunflower or pumpkin seeds
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons walnut or coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250˚. Rinse (and soak if desired) quinoa and spread out in a thin layer on a baking tray covered with parchment paper. Bake until liquid has evaporated, 15-20 minutes.
- Raise oven temperature to 350˚.
- Combine quinoa with pecans, seeds, cinnamon, salt, maple syrup, and oil. Stir until well combined. Spread in a thin layer on a baking tray.
- Bake for 20 minutes, stirring one to two times. Remove from oven and let cool until clumped together. Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Adapted from my joint creation with A Couple Cooks which was adapted from the Little Yellow Kitchen.
Ashley C says
looks delicious! my body is intolerant to quinoa. do you know of a good substitute?
elalderson says
I also used amaranth in the next batch I made but I also thought about try millet!
Erica says
I get stomach cramps when I eat cooked quinoa but for some reason I'm able to eat this granola? Maybe cuz it's raw?
Fresh and Foodie says
I love this! I've been making a big batch of granola every week, and this quinoa recipe will be a great way to mix it up.
Dara Michalski says
What a great idea! Quinoa makes its way into our meals regularly, but I need to be better about working it into breakfast.
Pas de Deux Blog says
I'm so curious to know how this works with raw quinoa! Must try it ASAP!
Including Cake says
Yum! I am obsessed with clumpy granola like this…the crazy thing is that i made a very similar one to this just yesterday… i'm calling it 'everything but the oats' granola since its got buckwheat groats, sunflower seeds, pumkin seeds, cooked quinoa (never tried uncooked- but the coked helped bind it) plus pureed apple, dates and nut butter to bind….YUMMY!
elalderson says
Yes! I'm going to start tossing everything into granola now!
Sonja / A Couple Cooks says
Hooray for quinoa granola, and for such a lovely weekend! We had such a ball. I can't wait to try your version too! Yummy! Much love to you 🙂 XOXO Sonja
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Oh my gosh! I had quinoa on my to-make list for "granola"! This looks so delish 🙂
Nat @ The Apple Diaries says
This Granola looks heavenly! The uncooked quinoa is such a great idea for a lovely crunch 😉
Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Oh my! This sounds so lovely!
Stefanie says
LOVE THIS! I am getting tired of savory cooked quinoa recipes. I can imagine the big crunch these little guys pack!
Eileen says
Hey, I just saw this on Sonja & Alex's blog! You guys all have such beautiful pictures--and I love the idea of the crunch of quinoa in a granola. 🙂
Kasey says
There are so many things i love about this - quinoa granola, you hanging out with Sonja and Alex. I wish I could hang with ya'll and make/eat this delicious granola. xo
elalderson says
I've already told Sonja and Alex that they have to come out and visit me once I move, so we will plan a day of cooking with everyone!
Cowen Park Kitchen says
Will have to try quinoa granola sometime...I eat oats almost every morning (no complaining, really, I love oats) but sometimes I need a shake-up!
elalderson says
I agree- I love oats too but sometimes it's fun to shake it up a bit!
Jennifer says
I made this and LOVE IT!! So delicious and such a nice texture compared to regular granola. I was wondering, do I have to cook the quinoa first or can I just throw it in raw? I want to try to decrease cooking time. Thanks!
Philia says
I am definitely going to make this, but would it work if i made it without the Maple Syrup? I could maybe use Agave or runny Honey instead, but would rather just leave the syrup part out altogether. If i did that, do you think it would not clump together as well? I just find Maple Syrup far, far too sweet for me 🙁 What does everyone think? x
elalderson says
Hi Philia,
I'm afraid the liquid sweetener is what holds everything together. I have made granola with a date-paste before which is a bit less sweet. You could try that!
Lana says
Hey, I am wondering if your oven temperatures are in F or C? x
erin says
F!
Karyl says
I tried this following the recipe exactly and it was simple plus tastes fantastic. It's great on yogurt. I'll be keeping this one, thank you!
★★★★★