Are you seeing Quinoa everywhere you look in recipes?  I have found I really like it in lots of dishes served hot or cold.  This recipe excites me because by adding quinoa and lots of nuts you increase the protein in the granola.  I love eating this granola on cereal, especially ones that are mostly carbs and no protein and my favorite way is on yogurt or ricotta cheese with fresh berries.  It also makes a great gift packaged in glass jars. It is so much better than the stuff you buy in the stores, most of those have more sugar than a candy bar, and of course no preservatives in this recipe.  You will never buy granola again and making your own is so much cheaper and it is extremely easy to make and you control the ingredients.  You can use this recipe as a starting place for your own special blend of granola filled with things your family will love. Use any kind of nuts, peanuts or seeds and then after cooling add any kind of dried fruit.  The choice is yours.  And by adding the quinoa you really have a nutritious granola.  

Quinoa is an ancient grain and 2013 was recognized as “The International Year of Quinoa”.  Most quinoa  consumed in the US comes from South America and there are  various colors with tri-color is also available.   The protein in quinoa is a complete protein source including all the essential amino acids.  It is also gluten-free.

It is typically consumed in the same way as the cereal grasses like wheat, oats, barley and rye, however, quinoa in not a cereal grass at all but in the same food family of spinach, swiss chard and beets.  Who Knew???  It is considered a “Pseudo-cereal”.

If stored in a tight container in the refrigerator it will last 3 to 6 months.  

I hope you will bake up a batch of this “can’t stop eating it” granola for your family and some to share with your friends.  A side benefit is the aroma that will fill your house. Bet it will not last long!!!   It is “The Best I Ever Made”

Please leave a comment, I would love to know how you made yours “Your Own”.

Coconut Quinoa Granola with Nuts

Basic Granola Recipe where you can add what ingredients you like. Quinoa adds protein.

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Course: Breakfast, Snack

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 3 cups old fashioned oats, Use gluten free oats for a gluten free granola
• 1 cup uncooked Quinoa, Can leave it out, but increase oats by 1/2 cup.
• 1 cup slivered almonds, Use any nuts you like
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/2 cup pecans
• 1/4 cup flax seeds
• 1/4 cup dry roasted sunflower kernels
• 1 cup shredded coconut, Sweet or unsweetened
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cardamon, optional but adds a really nice flavor
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup maple syrup, you can use 1/2 cup honey and no syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup dried cranberries, or dried fruit of your choice

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. In large bowl combine, oats, quinoa, all nuts, coconut, flaxseed, sunflower kernels, salt, cinnamon, and cardamon. Stir to combine
3. In a small saucepan add coconut oil, honey, syrup, vanilla and brown sugar. Heat till melted
4. Pour over dry ingredients and stir well, mixing to combine
5. Pour onto parchment paper lined baked sheet and spread out evenly
6. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes and watching closely during the last 5 minutes to make sure it doesn't get too brown
7. Let cool and add dried cranberries or dried fruit of your choice

Notes

Notes:  

Use any combo of nuts or all of one kind- equal to 2cups.

This is so good and nutritious with the quinoa being a complete protein source containing all essential amino acids.  Your family will never know something so delicious is so good for them.

 If you want the granola sweeter; after baking sprinkle some sweetener on while hot and of course I use Splenda because of my diabetic husband.

If stored in a tight container in the refrigerator it will last 3 to 6 months.  

It will be the “Best You Ever Made”