Craving something healthy on this lovely morning? This dish works as breakfast, lunch or a side! Apples provide a comforting sweetness, orange zest a depth of flavor, cinnamon a festive background and walnuts a toasty, crunch topping!
The ingredients are simple:
Start by chopping your apples –
Melt coconut oil over medium heat in a dutch oven.
Add Apple slices in a single layer. Sprinkle with cinnamon, half of the amount of orange zest, and juice.
Let the apples cook on medium or medium low heat until they begin to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Stir every so often to prevent burning.
Once the apples are mostly caramelized, add dry quinoa and toast for a minute.
Add water and salt & rest of orange juice to the pot. Turn heat to high allow to come to a boil.
Reduce to simmer and cook until water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
Toast walnuts in a toaster oven – do not let burn!!
Pour quinoa into a bowl and top with remaining walnuts and orange zest for garnish.
Apple Walnut Quinoa
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter or coconut oil
- 2 medium apples thinly sliced
- zest and juice of 1 orange
- 1 c quinoa uncooked
- 3 c water for quinoa
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 cup walnuts
Instructions
- Melt coconut oil in a pot on medium heat.
- Add Apple slices in a single layer. Sprinkle with cinnamon, half of the amount of orange zest, and juice.
- Let the apples cook on medium or medium low heat until they begin to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Stir every so often to prevent burning.
- Once the apples are mostly caramelized, add dry quinoa and toast for a minute.
- Add water and salt and rest of orange juice to the pot. Turn heat to high allow to come to a boil.
- Reduce to simmer and cook until water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
- Toast walnuts until fragrant.
- Garnish with the remaining orange zest and walnuts
Yum—that sounds delicious!
I think I’d want to add a dollop of maple walnut butter into the mix too 😀
Yes!!
Yum! Its like a grown-up and more sophisticated version of oatmeal! Im in love 🙂
Is your quinoa pre-rinsed? I’ve never toasted quinoa because it’s always wet from rinsing it.
And I never rinse it because I haven’t found a huge bitterness by skipping it 😉 It’s up to you – if you like to rinse it then just skip the soaking step. I usually buy the red quinoa – maybe it’s less bitter?
pretty cool. thanks!
I’ve been trying to get into quinoa- this sounds like a perfect recipe to try. Thanks!
I don’t have a dutch oven but I really want to make this…would it work in a regular pot? thanks
Yes totally!
I would have never thought to put quinoa with fruit, just like I would have never thought to put cheese with jam! Thanks for always inspiring me with new flavor combos!
🙂
Coconut butter or coconut oil? You mention both in two different places, so I am confused.
Sorry oil!! But I do love the buttah : )
What a great use of quinoa, looks very tasty. Thanks!
We are doing portion control how much would I eat?
Half a cup or a cup depending on your energy needs!
Yum! I bet using apple cider for the liquid would be a great twist as well!
Good idea!
I love quinoa with fruit! I often make my kids an overnight quinoa ‘oatmeal’ for breakfast. I have a recipe for quinoa and apples and it’s a delicious combo. I love the addition of orange too to add some freshness to the dish!
http://www.bitesforbabies.com/recipes/baked-apple-quinoa-casserole/
Totally made a halved version of this today and it was delicious! I did only have pecans on hand and (this may be biased bc I am an avowed pecan lover) I can’t imagine walnuts would be better! Thanks so much for the warm breakfast that isn’t oatmeal alternative!
I love the idea of cooking the apples with the quinoa to get a one-pot breakfast! This is perfect for the fall. I featured this recipe in my Apple Recipe Roundup: https://aluminumfoiledkitchen.wordpress.com/2016/07/27/recipe-roundup-an-apple-a-day/
One part of the recipe says “Once the apples are mostly carmelized, add dry quinoa and toast for one minute”. My question is do I put the dutch oven in a oven to ” toast” ? and if so how many degrees. Thanks , can’t wait to make.!!!! P.S. I’ve had quinoa before but, never prepared it.
Toasting on the stove top is fine!