Coconut Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

This coconut quinoa breakfast bowl is quick, simple and healthy.

Quinoa is classified as a whole grain and is one of the best sources of plant protein and fiber.

Additionally, quinoa is great for supplementing digestion and it is one of the few plant foods that contain sufficient amounts of ALL nine essential amino acids!

Along with having high levels of protein and fiber, it also has high levels of magnesium, B vitamins, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, E vitamins, and antioxidants.

Safe to say, quinoa is overall a very well-rounded whole grain food that is extremely beneficial to add to your diet.

Another amazing quality of quinoa is that it can be extremely versatile in terms of how it is used in meals. It is most commonly used in savory meals.

However, most people don’t realize that the lack of natural flavor allows for us to modify and flavor the grains however we want to!

This is what makes it a perfect addition to a breakfast/brunch dish! 

This recipe came to mind one morning, during which I was very hungry. While trying to decide what kind of filling breakfast I wanted to eat, I was drawing a blank.

A smoothie was not going to do the trick, oatmeal was getting boring, and cereal was just out of the question. 

When you’re so hungry, protein should definitely be a big component of whatever you eat. In my case, I wanted it to be sweet, so eggs would also be out of the question.

I figured that maybe a variety of things combined would really satisfy the craving. While looking through the pantry, there sat a big bag of quinoa, high in fiber, protein, and nutrients. Looked pretty perfect. 

It then dawned on me. I thought “how can this be my breakfast?”

Like mentioned earlier, we normally don’t think of quinoa as a breakfast item, but the more I thought about it, the more I couldn’t come up with a reason as to why not!

We’ve all heard about quinoa salad bowls or buddha bowls, usually mixed with tons of veggies, some source of protein, and lots of savory flavors.

But why not go against the trend of using quinoa just for those basic meals!

In this recipe for my coconut quinoa breakfast bowl, I’ve decided to make it sweet instead of savory by adding a few of my favorite healthy ingredients that add lots of flavor and natural sweetness!

You won’t need too many ingredients or kitchen appliances to make this coconut quinoa breakfast bowl.

A few things you’ll need are a stove, a small or large pot + its lid, a wooden spoon (ideally for mixing), a serving bowl, and that’s all!

During the cooking process, if you feel liquids are too low or too high, feel absolutely free to adjust as you wish. Do you want it thicker? Let it cook for longer to allow more moisture to evaporate. Do you like it to be runnier? Add more of the almond or coconut milk, or even water! (Don’t forget that quinoa can be cooked with plain old water if you do not like nut milk flavors)

When you're in the kitchen and are feeling like there’s something you’re craving but can’t quite put your finger on it, you're going to have to think outside the box.

When doing so, I can almost guarantee you won’t be able to come up with something quickly on the spot.

That’s because today, we are all conditioned to think of similar meals with similar ingredients, especially when certain foods are trending.

So, I challenge you to do the following: look around, with no pre-made decision for what it is you’re about to make. Let your eyes and mind wander.

Cooking should be creative, recipe development should come depending on your mood, your cravings in the moment, and it should allow you to explore your options!

If you want to feel extra fancy, you can make your own drizzle to top everything off.

My personal favorite is a peanut butter drizzle, which is simply made by mixing together equal parts of smooth natural peanut butter and any kind of liquid sweetener (such as maple syrup). You could even make a chocolate drizzle with cacao powder and warm water until it thickens.

I want to emphasize that the most important concept to keep in mind when it comes to making your own food is to modify anything you would like to, so long as YOU will enjoy it.

Print