You say QUIN-OH-LA, I say KEEN-OH-LA.
Say what? Despite the popularity of quinoa, many folks have no idea how to pronounce this amazing Peruvian grain. Whichever way you say it, this new take on granola will make a delicious addition to your breakfast routine, or an awesome snack when the hunger pains start stalking you in the afternoon. My favorite way to eat quinoa granola is to sprinkle it over a cup of Greek yogurt. It makes a delicious and filling pairing.
Oh….did I mention this quinola is filled with toasted hazelnuts, coconut and chunks of chocolate? Count me in!
Chocolate Hazelnut Quinola (Quinoa Granola)
Ingredients
1 cup uncooked white quinoa
1/2 cup raw hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil, melted
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1/2 cup coarsely chopped semi-sweet chocolate
Directions
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place quinoa in a fine mesh strainer. Rinse under cold running water; drain well. Transfer quinoa to clean kitchen towel; pat dry to remove any excess moisture.
In a medium bowl, combine rinsed and dried quiona, hazelnuts, coconut and salt. Drizzle with melted coconut oil and maple syrup, stir well to combine.
Spread quinoa mixture on lined baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until quinoa is starting to turn golden brown, stirring after 5 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. Stir chopped chocolate into cooled quinola.
To serve, sprinkle over your favorite flavor of Greek yogurt (my favorites are coconut and vanilla). Store quinola in an airtight container at room temperature.
Tip: In this recipe, it’s important to rinse and dry the quinoa. Rinsing quinoa removes the natural bitter enzyme on the surface of the grain. Draining well and drying the quinoa allows the grain to toast in the oven rather than steam. The result is a crunchy, granola-like texture.
Prep Time: 10 Minutes | Total Time: 20 Minutes | Makes: about 2 cups
Hola Granola! Here are some recipes to check out:
- Chickpea Granola Bars from Have Cake Will Travel
- Chocolate Kamut Granola from Rock Recipes
- Citrus Summer Lentil Granola from Healthful Pursuit
- Coconut Oat-Millet Granola from Eat Your Greens