Baked Apple and Quinoa Breakfast
Tender baked apple slices rest on a pillow of warm quinoa in this gentle, naturally sweet breakfast. The apples soften and caramelize just enough to bring out their sweetness without any added sugar. A whisper of cinnamon (if your child tolerates it) or a light drizzle of safe oil rounds it out. Simple, filling, and kind to sensitive tummies.
By TasteBuds
Recipe details
- Yield
- 1 child (or 2 small servings)
- Prep time
- 5 minutes
- Cook time
- 35 minutes
- Total time
- 40 minutes
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Quinoa, rinsed well
- ½ cup Water (for cooking quinoa)
- 1 medium Apple (sweet variety like Fuji or Gala, peeled and cored)
- Small pinch Ground cinnamon (optional, only if tolerated)
- ¼ tsp Safe oil (optional, only a cleared oil like sunflower or grapeseed)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Rinse ¼ cup (45 g) quinoa thoroughly in a fine-mesh strainer under cold running water for about 30 seconds, rubbing the grains gently with your fingers. This removes the natural bitter coating.
- Combine the rinsed ¼ cup (45 g) quinoa and ½ cup (120 ml) water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then immediately reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid.
- While the quinoa simmers, peel and core 1 medium apple.
- Slice the 1 medium apple into thin wedges, about ¼ inch thick.
- Arrange the 1 medium apple, sliced in a single layer in a small baking dish or oven-safe skillet. If using a small pinch ground cinnamon, sprinkle it lightly over the apple slices now.
- Bake the apple slices for 20 minutes, until they are soft and their edges just start to turn golden and caramelized.
- When the quinoa timer goes off, remove the pan from the heat and let it sit, still covered, for 5 minutes. This lets the grains finish steaming and fluff up.
- Fluff the quinoa gently with a fork.
- Spoon the warm quinoa into a small serving bowl. Top with the baked apple slices. If using ¼ tsp (1 ml) safe oil, drizzle it lightly over the top.