Crispy Quinoa

Crispy Quinoa (Quinoa Crisps) is a healthy, easy-to-make, plant-based snack, crunchy topping, tasty cereal, and really anything else you want it to be. Made without oil, it's essentially one ingredient, and you can change it up with all sorts of flavors.

Here's the thing, not everybody enjoys quinoa. (GASP!)  I'm hoping to change that for a few folks with this tried and true, delicious crispy quinoa recipe.

When you make Quinoa Crisps, you change cooked quinoa from soft and sometimes a bit bitter, to super crunchy with a delicious earthy, nut-like flavor.

From the time the quinoa finishes cooking in water, to the time it comes out of the oven after baking, it undergoes a major transformation.

Ingredient (Just One!)

Above: Dry uncooked red quinoa.

There is just one ingredient for protein-packed Crispy quinoa -- quinoa! (Well, and water, which for a bit more flavor, you can substitute with vegetable broth or stock if you'd like.)

Quinoa - Quinoa is a protein rich, gluten-free seed, that's classified as a grain. Use any color you like, red, white or black, or a mix of the three. (There are said to be hundreds of varieties, but these are the three you'll see in stores.)

How to Make Quinoa Crispy

- Cook ½ cup of dry quinoa in 1 cup of water. Bring it to a boil, cover and simmer until all of the water has been absorbed.

- Then add the quinoa to a parchment-lined baking sheet in a thin even layer and let it air dry for about 10 minutes.

- Place the baking sheet in a preheated 375°F oven and bake until golden and crispy. This should take about 35 minutes. (It will shrink during this process.)

Recipe Tip: I love that this recipe doesn't need any oil -- however, it's the slightest bit crispier if you drizzle a little on top before you roast it. You can use any oil you'd like, though I recommend extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil.

- At the halfway point, use a flat-bottomed spatula to flip and move around the quinoa.

- Leave it on the baking sheet to cool to room temperature before using it.

Recipe Tip: If you're using red or black quinoa, it will be harder to detect when it's golden, so just remove a bit from the baking sheet, let it cool and taste. It should be very crunchy when it's done.

Quinoa Measurements: Dry vs. Cooked vs. Crispy

• ½ cup of dry quinoa = approximately 1 ¾ cups cooked quinoa.
• 1 ¾ cup cooked quinoa = approximately 1 cup crispy quinoa.

Uses for Crispy Quinoa

The possibilities are almost endless . . .

• It's a fabulous snack. Just put it in a bowl and serve! (See Variations below for a sweet and savory version.)
• Use it as a crunchy quinoa topping for soups, salads, yogurt and even ice cream. (When we look for crunchy salad toppings, we're usually thinking about nuts or croutons -- which is why this unexpected ingredient will wow everyone.) It's especially delicious on Fall Squash Soup, Carrot Soup and Apple Cranberry Salad.
• Add nutrients to your rice by topping it, or mixing it with the quinoa.
• Sprinkle it over roasted vegetables like oven charred broccoli or Smashed Cauliflower.

Variations of Quinoa Crisps

You can flavor crispy quinoa with all sorts of ingredients. In this oil-free recipe, for the seasonings to "stick" to the quinoa, they should be mixed into the quinoa right after it's cooked and still damp, before it's roasted.

• Spicy version. Add ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle or cayenne chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin and ½ teaspoon Kosher salt. This is excellent on salads and soups.
• Sweet version. Add 1 tablespoon maple syrup and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon. This is a fantastic cereal -- just add milk and a spoon. 😉

How long will it keep?

Quinoa Crisps will keep well in a tightly sealed container for about 24 hours at room temperature. They tend to lose their crunch after a day or so, at which point you can spread them on a baking sheet and pop them in a 375°F oven just to crisp them.

I don't recommend refrigerating or freezing, as they will loose their crunch.

More Delicious Quinoa Recipes

• Lemon Quinoa
• Quinoa Burgers with Almonds
• Quinoa Salad Bowl with Pineapple
• Spicy Red Quinoa Pesto Bites

I hope you find crispy quinoa as fun and tasty as my family and I do.

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