Brown Sugar Cinnamon Quinoa
Quinoa flakes hydrate in five minutes and hit like oatmeal with more protein.
- calories
- 230
- weight
- 2 oz
- cal / oz
- 115
- protein
- 6 g
- serves
- 1, scales
- prep
- 1 min
- cook
- 2 min
- total time
- 3 min
- water
- 240 ml boiled
- cost
- $
Calorie and protein figures are my own estimates, good enough for planning a food bag and not meant as precise nutrition data.
- Breakfast
- Canister stove
- Alcohol / Esbit
- Backpacking
- Thru-hike
- Bikepacking
- Day hike
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten free
- Dairy free
- Nut free
- Eat in the bag
- Pre-mix at home
- Shelf stable
- Dump and stir
Ingredients
| Instant quinoa flakes | 1/3 cup | natural food stores, or dehydrate cooked quinoa and blitz it |
|---|---|---|
| Brown sugar | 1 1/2 tsp | |
| Ground cinnamon | 1/4 tsp | |
| Water | 1 cup |
Method
- Heat 240 ml of water to just under a boil.
- Pour it into the bag or mug of dry mix.
- Stir for a full minute. Do not stop early or you get lumps.
- Seal it, tuck it in a cozy or a jacket sleeve, and wait five minutes. It will thicken hard.
- If you would rather cook it in the pot, keep it over a low flame for 90 seconds while stirring constantly.
Quinoa flakes are rolled the same way oats are, so they rehydrate on residual heat instead of a long simmer. That is the whole point: one pour, no boil-over, no pot to scrub. They also carry more protein per ounce than rolled oats, which matters on a morning that ends with a climb.
The minute of stirring is the step people skip. Flakes clump the second they hit hot water, and once a lump forms the inside stays dry. Stir it through, then let the sealed bag do the rest of the work while you pack up.
Packing
Everything dry goes in one snack-size freezer bag. Write the water amount on the bag so you are not guessing at 6 a.m.
Variations
- A spoonful of powdered coconut milk or milk powder makes it richer for almost no weight.
- Dried apple or raisins, added dry, soften while it sits.
- Trade the cinnamon for cardamom if you eat this every morning for a week.
https://trailcooking.com/breakfast/brown-sugar-cinnamon-quinoa