This crispy quinoa crunch is a delicious high-protein boost to your favorite soups, salads, breakfast yogurt, and roasted veggies. Discover the magic of crispy quinoa! This easy-to-make, toasty and delicious crunchy topper is incredibly versatile. Let me teach you some of my favorite variations!
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Get ready to fall in love with Crispy Quinoa!
Crispy quinoa is simply cooked quinoa drizzled with oil and roasted to golden perfection. I've written the recipe as a "blank slate" and provided you with idea starters so you can create your own fun variations. Think of it as your culinary canvas, ready for your creative touch with endless flavor possibilities. The plain version reminds me of salted corn chips, but protein packed!
Ingredients to make Crispy Quinoa Crunch
- Cooked Quinoa: I prefer white quinoa over red quinoa for presentation.
Flavor Notes: Mild, nutty, and slightly earthy, quinoa has a subtle flavor that easily adapts to both savory and sweet dishes.
Benefits: Quinoa is a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids. It's also high in fiber, rich in vitamins (like B vitamins), and minerals (such as magnesium and iron).
- High-Quality Olive Oil:
Flavor Notes: Rich, fruity, and slightly peppery, high-quality olive oil adds a luxurious, robust flavor that enhances the taste of any dish. Select a good brand like Cucina and Amore.
Benefits: Olive oil is packed with healthy monounsaturated fats, which can help reduce inflammation. It's also rich in antioxidants and has been linked to heart health benefits.
- Kosher Salt:
Flavor Notes: Clean and crisp with larger crystals, kosher salt provides a burst of salinity that enhances the natural flavors of ingredients without being overpowering. I like Redmond Real Salt or Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt.
Benefits: Kosher salt contains less sodium per teaspoon than table salt, making it a slightly healthier option for seasoning. Its larger flakes make it easier to control the amount of salt used, reducing the risk of over-salting.
How to make Crispy Quinoa
- Preheat the oven to 400°F/204°C
- Spread the quinoa evenly on a parchment lined baking sheet. Try to make it all in one layer, with no pieces on top of each other.
- Drizzle with the olive oil and season with salt to taste for a versatile plain crunchy quinoa. Mix with your hands to coat.
- Bake at 400°F/204°C for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until the quinoa is golden brown and crispy.
- Serve as a topping, or as a snack!
Ways to use crispy quinoa?
- Sprinkle on your favorite creamy soups
- Toss on roasted vegetables such as brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage.
- On breakfast yogurt with your favorite fruit.
- Perfect accent to any fresh crisp salad
Sweet and Savory Flavor Ideas for your Crispy Quinoa
Show off by adding an extra level of flavor, here are some ideas:
- Lemon juice – pairs well with garlic for savory or honey for sweet
- Sweet ideas include - Maple syrup, honey, agave, palm (coconut) sugar.
- Spices that pair well with sweets – cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, cardamom
- Spices that pair well with savory – cumin, paprika, garlic and onion powder, coriander, celery seed.
- Fresh or dried herbs – sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano
- Blends like Za’atar seasoning are magical.
Crispy Quinoa Crunch
Equipment
- Parchment
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry quinoa, cooked
- 2 tablespoon good olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F/204°C
- Spread the cooked quinoa evenly on a parchment lined baking sheet. Try to make it all in one layer, with no pieces on top of each other.
- Drizzle with the olive oil and season with salt to taste for a versatile plain crunchy quinoa. Mix with your hands to coat.
- Bake at 400°F/204°C for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until the quinoa is golden brown and crispy.
- Serve as a topping, or as a snack!
Notes
- Here’s the fun part! Turn your crispy quinoa into flavor varieties. I like to split my cooked quinoa in half and make to flavors at a time. After the olive oil drizzle, consider adding spices, such as:
- Add a ½ teaspoon garlic powder and onion powder for a savory flair, great on salads.
- Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg and a 1 tbs of sugar for a sweet crunch on yogurt.
- When adding the oil, consider using a flavored oil e.g. garlic oil, chili oil, etc. for a brilliant soup topping.
- Think green and consider using a basil oil, thyme, or parsley oil. So fun!
I’ve listed more flavor ideas in my blog post
Nutrition
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