Sweet Breakfast Quinoa Porridge with Prunes

This delicious and filling porridge comes together in 30 minutes for a sweet, meal prep breakfast you can enjoy all week. Easily customize with your favorite ingredients or toppings, but don’t forget to add some California Prunes!

By Jackie Topol, MS, RD

Preparing a hearty and healthy breakfast doesn’t have to be a ton of work. Endless make-ahead options like overnight oats, breakfast casseroles or sous vide egg bites are here to help! Meal prepping your breakfast means you’re better able to plan for a balanced meal including fats, carbs, protein and fiber. That’s better than just grabbing a bagel or doughnut on your way to work, which always results in a crash.

Why porridge for breakfast?

Porridge isn’t just for Goldilocks and the three bears! It’s a delicious breakfast that’s easy to customize and will fill you up and fuel you for the day. The basic idea of porridge is a whole grain, cereal or legume that’s boiled in liquid and served hot. Many recipes call for boiling these grains in some type of milk to enhance flavor, then mixing with other ingredients like spices, fruit, nuts or nut butter, seeds and more.

Are porridge and oatmeal the same thing?

Oatmeal is a type of porridge, but not all porridges are oatmeal. While oatmeal is always made using oats, porridge can be made with a variety of whole grains including quinoa, like this recipe, rice, barley, corn or wheat.

Variations for this porridge recipe:

• Swap the grain – Instead of quinoa, swap for rolled oats for a more traditional oatmeal. Or, get creative using farro, barley, rice or other grains.
• Add in fruit – Once cooked, stir in your favorite chopped fruit like bananas, berries, peaches, cherries and more.
• Play with textures – Nuts and seeds can add some crunch, go crazy adding your favorites as toppings. For a smoother version, try different types of nut butter.

This combination of whole grains like quinoa, nut butters, seeds and California Prunes helps this breakfast pack a healthy balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat and fiber to fill you up and keep you full throughout the day. Not only that, but this balanced breakfast is digested slowly, keeping energy levels up and helping you avoid that afternoon slump.

Sweet Breakfast Quinoa Porridge with Prunes

Jackie Topol, MS, RD

This delicious and filling porridge comes together in 30 minutes for a sweet, fiber-packed meal prep breakfast you can enjoy all week. Easily customize with your favorite ingredients or toppings, but don't forget to add some California Prunes!

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Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Breakfast

Cuisine RD Creations

Servings 4

Calories 500 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cup quinoa any variety
• 13.5 ounce can light coconut milk
• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk or other milk of choice
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup almond butter
• 1 cup chopped California prunes (about 25 prunes)
• 2 teaspoon hemp seeds

Instructions

 

• Rinse quinoa using a fine mesh strainer. Place in a large pot and toast for 2-3 minutes over low-medium heat.
• Add coconut milk and almond milk, partially cover pot with lid, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer. Monitor closely; if heat is a bit too high the mixture can bubble over. Stir frequently and cook about 20 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and stir in maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt.
• Divide the quinoa among 4 bowls or containers. Top each with 1 tablespoon almond butter, ¼ cup chopped prunes and ½ teaspoon hemp seeds. Add additional maple syrup, almond milk or hemp seeds, if desired.

Notes

Get creative with this quinoa porridge! Swap the almond butter and/or hemp seeds for other nut butters or seeds. You can also add in orange zest or ground ginger for additional flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 500kcalCarbohydrates: 73gProtein: 12gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 210mgPotassium: 910mgFiber: 9gSugar: 28gCalcium: 370mgIron: 3.7mg

Keyword breakfast, make ahead, meal prep, porridge, quinoa

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