You may have tasted quinoa before, and of course, you have probably snacked on an apple, but have you tried these two together? I mean, combined in ONE dish? If you haven’t then you’re missing out! This apple cinnamon quinoa recipe is a delicious new flavor combo that you'll want to munch day after day!
It’s a beautiful dish that’s prepared with very minimal processing; for instance, the drying of the cranberries and the cooking of the quinoa and apples. This is how God wants us to eat food - to consume them as close to their natural state as possible. The least processed it is, the better. When you are paying attention to your health you are showing God you love Him by treating your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit that it is. In other words, when you love your body, you are also loving God!
Why is Quinoa Good for You?
Quinoa is actually a seed and not a grain. It originated in Mexico, and it's a great substitute for rice. Quinoa is a high-protein food that’s gluten-free, and it’s just one of few plant-based foods that has 9 essential amino acids!
On top of that, here’s also fiber, B-vitamins, calcium, vitamin E, potassium, iron, and magnesium in quinoa, along with other beneficial antioxidants. A cup of cooked (185 grams) quinoa, for instance, has about 5 grams of fiber, 8 grams of protein, and more than 10 percent of the RDA for B6, B2, and B1.
Whether you eat the black, white, or red variety of quinoa, you're guaranteed to have goodness in every bite!
Rich in Folate
Pregnant women and the elderly need folate as this essential nutrient provides energy to the body. No matter what stage of life you are in, adolescence, pregnancy, or your senior years, folate is essential. This B-vitamin is necessary to make healthy white and red blood cells, produce RNA and DNA, and convert carbs into energy!
What’s the Best Quinoa to Buy?
Here’s my grocery store discovery video to help you pick out the best quinoa among the rest! I would also like to add that this plant has flavonoids, which are antioxidants that support your health in the cellular level. Kaempferol and quercitin are among the two flavonoids present in quinoa. These antioxidants contain molecules proven to have anti-depressant, anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Isn’t that amazing how many health benefits you can get by eating this superfood? Combine that with the other ingredients in our apple cranberry quinoa recipe, and the nutrition soars through the roof!
How to Enjoy the Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Recipe
You are probably wondering if this recipe is a lunch dish, breakfast, snack, or dinner. Actually, you can use this dish as any of those meals!
You can serve it warm like porridge for breakfast, cold just like a hearty dessert or snack, or served with kale salad or cauliflower pesto for lunch or dinner.
It’s definitely one of my family’s favorites in the Healthy Treasures Cookbook, which I recommend that you check out for meal ideas. Above all, it's a handy, comprehensive resource of healthy and tasty meals that you can prepare for your family and guests during special occasions.
This recipe is such a tasty treat with a tangy flavor of orange juice, aromatic sweetness of maple syrup, and a somewhat tart taste of cranberries and apples. It’s bursting with flavor and aroma that complements the nutty taste of cooked quinoa. Oh, and don’t forget cinnamon!
I use no added sugar cranberries, just naturally dried. The flavor remains intact, and most importantly, so do the nutrients. This little fruit is loaded with magnesium, which can benefit people who have leg cramps or muscle twitches. These are common symptoms of a magnesium deficiency, so if you are experiencing these things, you may need to get some magnesium in your body!
With all of these natural flavors blended together, it is like a symphony playing on your taste buds!
Once you've made this meal - please come back to review it!
Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups Quinoa cooked
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/2 cup Dried Cranberries
- 1/2 cup Minced Shallots substitute green onions
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1/4 cup Maple Syrup
- 3-3 Apples peeled, cored and sliced
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Orange Juice
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine olive oil, cranberries, shallots, orange juice, cinnamon, and maple syrup.
- Cover the pan and cook for about 5 minutes over medium-low heat.
- In a bowl, combine the apple and quinoa. Stir well until it forms a thick and smooth mixture.
- Add the apple and quinoa into the mixture in the pan.
- Serve warm or cold.
It looks delicious. But for me , the sugars are way to high and the calories Also. Quinoa is my favorite seed ever. I just put an egg and broccoli over it daily.
My friend brings it over quite often and puts a bag of her frozen veggies and a can of tomatoes of your choice. So,easy. But I am reducing all of my sugars.
Does this mean 3 cups of Quinoa before or after it is cooked?
“3 cups Quinoa cooked”. Sounds like it could mean to cook 3 cups of Quino, and it also sounds like it could mean 3 cups cooked Quinoa. Oh well, lol, which does it mean. If Quinoa doubles in size, that could be a lot of Qunioa, but if it just cooks up the same amount, then it wouldn’t be as much. Thx Annette.
This would mean 3 cups after it has been cooked. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Hi! This recipe looks delicious! What does 3-3 apples mean? Thank you!
Hi there – sorry for the confusion. Just 3 apples!