Reasons to love this baked quinoa
Baked oatmeal is such an iconic no-fuss and satisfying breakfast, and we certainly enjoy it quite often! By the way, you need to try this savory baked oatmeal version! But it’s good to mix things up, especially when feeding babies and kids. Introducing them to a wide variety of foods from early on is important in helping them to develop an adventurous palate. Enter this breakfast baked quinoa! Cooking with quinoa is so fun. It’s versatile and such an easy way to amp up the intake of iron, protein, and fiber. Here’s how to cook it perfectly as well as several family friendly quinoa recipes. And now this quinoa breakfast bake with zucchini! Every time I make this, my toddler always screams “BROWNIE!” Thanks to the cinnamon, the color is dark brown.’ If your child loves chocolate, you should totally make these chocolate zucchini muffins too! May be interested in: Easy Breakfast Ideas for babies or toddlers
Ingredients
Quinoa – yellow variety will work best as the flavor is milder.Zucchini – you can use other vegetables as well! finely chopped broccoli, cauliflower, grated carrots, sweet potatoes will all workBanana – acts as thickener and adds sweetness.Cinnamon – This is the only spice used so use the good stuff! Ceylon cinnamon is more expensive BUT well worth the investment. You’ll see ;).Coconut milk – full fat canned coconut milk is the best! Not only is it more flavorful and richer, The ones that come in a carton oftentimes contain added sugar and preservatives. You can also use other milk of choice, but I personally love coconut milk in this bake. Chia and flax seeds – Great sources of protein, fiber, and omega 3 fatty acids and help bind all the ingredients together. Here’s everything you need to know about serving chia seeds to babies as well as recipes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Tips for success (be sure to read!)
Be sure to squeeze out as much excess moisture as you can from the zucchini by using a dish towel or cheesecloth. Go ahead and grate extra so you can enjoy throughout the week in oatmeal, lentils, muffins, cookies.I like to use a combination of chia and flax seeds in place of eggs. Flax seeds provide an earthy, nutty flavor, and adding chia seeds results in a thicker texture. If you wish, you can use just one of the two.The recipe calls for 2 cups of milk, but canned coconut milk comes as 15 ounce portions, which is about 1 3/4 cup. You can open up another can, but I personally like to add 1/4 cup of whole fat cow’s milk, which is what we always have on hand for our toddler. Whatever you do, just make sure you’re adding 2 cups of milk total.If you want a clean slice, refrigerate for at least an hour.
Best Milk for Toddlers
Topping Suggestions
This breakfast quinoa bake is delicious on its own, but just like with baked oatmeals, toppings are where the fun is! You can serve this for breakfast/snack every day of the week and still invite variety, fun, texture, and color to your baby and/or child’s plate simply by switching up the add-ins. Here are some suggestions:
YogurtNut/seed butterFruit (even avocado!)Vegetables (e.g. more grated zucchini, carrots, broccoli “sprinkles”, mashed sweet potatoes)shredded unsweetened coconut flakes
Serving Tips for Babies and Kids
This zucchini quinoa breakfast bake can be enjoyed warm or cold. There are two ways you can serve this: For older babies and toddlers, slice and serve in a plate/bowl with suggested toppings of choice. Refrigerating will really help it to firm up. OR Scoop into a bowl, mash, and add some milk and/or yogurt along with the toppings. Now you have quinoa porridge! I recommend this for young babies, 6-9 months. Even though you could cut into strips, their strong grasp will likely cause it to fall apart. This spoon is perfect for babies! Simply preload and place on the table/bowl for them to pick up or hand it to them vertically in the air. Our FAVORITE plates, bowls, and spoons Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!
