What Is Overnight Quinoa?

What Is Overnight Quinoa?

Overnight quinoa falls somewhere between overnight oats and chia pudding. Not only is it super filling, it is also yummy and nutritious! The beautiful thing about quinoa is you can cook up a large batch of it over the weekend, and then use it in different recipes all week long, including different varieties and flavors of overnight quinoa.

What Is Quinoa?

Quinoa is considered one of the ancient grains of the world, though its not actually a grain but a seed. Its naturally gluten free and loaded with protein. Its also one of the few plant foods that are a complete protein, making it not only ideal for those who have gluten sensitivities, but also as a source of protein for those adhering to a vegan diet.

Benefits of Quinoa?

What Is Overnight Quinoa? | Bob's Red Mill There are numerous benefits to quinoa. Not only is it a complete source of plant-based protein, its also full of fiber, including insoluble fiber. This increases the feeling of fullness you feel after eating, which can help curb your hunger and may lead to lose weight. Its also helpful for improving your cholesterol. Since its naturally gluten free, quinoa is an excellent source of nutrition for people who suffer from health conditions like celiac disease, and it offers more nutrients than rice, which helps create a balanced diet. Additionally, quinoa is a great source of antioxidants and heart-healthy fats, which may help fight cancer and heart disease. Quinoa is also thought to help keep your gut healthy and reduce inflammation, as well as support healthy bones and decrease the risk of diabetes.

Making Overnight Quinoa

The beauty of overnight quinoa is the ease and simplicity with which you can make it. You can prepare it the night before and have a jar of overnight quinoa ready and waiting when you wake up the next day. All you have to do is add any additional toppings you like. Make a large batch of quinoa over the weekend, and use it to make overnight quinoa every night of the week--or you can use it to make enough to feed the whole family a healthy and nutritious breakfast on the go the following day. Keep in mind that you always want to cook your quinoa first. The seeds are hard, and while you can sprout them and eat them raw, its an acquired taste, because raw quinoa can sometimes be bitter in flavor. All you have to do is boil your quinoa for 12 minutes or so, or until the grains are tender. Once they are cooked and tender, you can store them in a container for later use or use them right away. What Is Overnight Quinoa | Bob's Red Mill For overnight quinoa, youll want to chill your quinoa and then divide it into Mason jars in preparation for adding your other ingredients. We love this Banana and Almond Overnight Quinoa with Chia Seeds. This recipe uses our organic quinoa grains, along with almond milk, Greek yogurt, and organic chia seeds. Bananas and honey sweeten the deal, and sliced bananas, strawberries, blueberries, and almonds can all be used to garnish it in the morning, making it even tastier. If you dont care for almond milk and almonds, you can always change it up a little and use a substitute such as vanilla hemp or coconut milk. Overnight quinoa is very versatile, so dont be afraid to mix it up and experiment with your ingredients. Cinnamon is always a great addition, and you can switch up your sweetener as well if you dont care for honey. To assemble, combine your Greek yogurt, almond milk, honey, and bananas in a blender and puree it. Add chia seeds to each Mason jar of cooked quinoa, then stir in your pureed banana and almond blend, combining the ingredients well. Seal your jar closed and stick it in the fridge for the night, and awaken to a perfect jar of overnight quinoa. You can add your garnish of almonds and fruit when youre ready to eat it, and voila! A healthy, nutritious, fiber, and protein-packed breakfast that you can take with you and eat anywhere. As you can see, overnight quinoa is an excellent choice for those hectic mornings you have no time to cook. Its filling, its loaded with nutrition, and it tastes amazing. Heck, you could even eat it as a snack or dessert, its just that good.  
Bob's Red Mill
June 21 2018

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