Mix up your usual yogurt by turning it into a parfait with an extra boost of protein from the layers of quinoa.
I love finding new ways to use ingredients. You think you know all the different ways to prepare a food, but sometimes if you branch out enough, it practically becomes a whole new ingredient.
Quinoa was that ingredient for me recently. I usually just use it as an alternative to rice, or sometimes I’ll add some on top of a salad. But I was inspired to use it in a very new-to-me way recently: as part of a parfait.
In my mind, I figured quinoa would act as a replacement for granola (which felt wrong at first, because I’m addicted to my Maple Vanilla Granola). The first bite I took of the parfaits I prepared (I used a mix of berries throughout because it’s what I had on hand), I wasn’t quite sure how to feel. Quinoa? In yogurt?
Then I kept eating the parfait and decided I actually really liked the texture of the quinoa as part of it. They’re like little nutty beads that add a nice flavor and punch of protein to the mix.
I get bored with yogurt very fast, so I’m always looking for way to change it up. This berry quinoa parfait recipe definitely does that! And it’s also nice knowing all the extra nutrients I’m getting by adding the seeds (i.e., fiber and various vitamins and minerals).
Berry Quinoa Yogurt Parfait
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 Tbs pure honey
- 1/2 cup cooked quinoa, cooled
- 1 cup berries (I used strawberries and blueberries)
- fresh mint for garnish optional
Instructions
- Mix the honey into the yogurt. Set aside.
- Layer the ingredients in two jars (approx. 8oz each), starting with 1/4 cup of the sweetened yogurt in each jar. Add 2 tablespoons of quinoa in each jar; then top with 1/4th of the berries.
- Repeat the same layering process. Top with the optional mint.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for later.
Parfaits like this (or my Raspberry Almond Greek Yogurt Parfait) may seem like extra effort you don’t care about, but I’ve found that taking an extra minute or two to jazz up an otherwise “blah” dish you’re sick of can really be worth it.
Plus, you might just end up discovering a fun new way to use up an ingredient you’ve been neglecting!
How do you usually cook with quinoa?
