Description
This Crispy Quinoa Recipe transforms cooked quinoa into a crunchy, golden topping perfect for enhancing salads, soups, bowls, or yogurt. Lightly seasoned and baked to crisp perfection, it’s a healthy and versatile snack or garnish packed with texture and subtle flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked quinoa (cooled and fluffed)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Optional Seasonings
- Garlic powder, to taste
- Smoked paprika, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Dry the quinoa: Spread the cooked quinoa on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and gently pat it dry. Removing excess moisture is crucial to achieve maximum crispiness.
- Season the quinoa: Transfer the dried quinoa to a bowl and toss it with olive or avocado oil, salt, and any optional seasonings such as garlic powder, smoked paprika, or black pepper for added flavor.
- Spread on baking sheet: Arrange the quinoa in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet to ensure uniform cooking and browning.
- Bake until crispy: Bake for 20–25 minutes, stirring once or twice midway through to promote even crisping. The quinoa should turn golden brown and crunchy.
- Cool and serve: Let the quinoa cool completely on the baking sheet; it will crisp up further as it cools. Use as a topping or snack.
Notes
- Ensure quinoa is fully cooled and dried before baking for optimal crunchiness.
- Customize the seasonings to your taste – smoked paprika adds a smoky depth, while garlic powder gives a savory punch.
- Use crispy quinoa to add texture and flavor to salads, soups, smoothie bowls, or yogurt parfaits.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them crunchy.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish, Topping
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Universal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
