Vanilla Brown Butter Quinoa Bowl (Printable Version)
A nourishing breakfast featuring quinoa infused with vanilla and brown butter, topped with fresh fruit and crunchy nuts.
# Ingredient List:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
→ Dairy
02 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 1 cup whole milk (or dairy-free alternative)
→ Sweeteners & Flavors
04 - 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (plus extra for serving)
05 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
06 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
→ Toppings
07 - 1/2 cup fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries)
08 - 1/4 cup chopped toasted nuts (almonds, pecans, or walnuts)
09 - 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
10 - 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut flakes (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Continue to cook, swirling occasionally, until the butter foams and turns golden brown with a nutty aroma, about 3–4 minutes.
02 - Add the rinsed quinoa to the pan and stir to coat in the brown butter. Cook for 1 minute to toast lightly.
03 - Pour in the milk, 1 cup water, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir well and bring to a simmer.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is tender.
05 - Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff quinoa gently with a fork.
06 - Spoon quinoa into bowls. Top each with berries, toasted nuts, chia seeds, and coconut flakes as desired. Drizzle with extra maple syrup if preferred. Serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The brown butter creates this incredible nutty undertone that makes you forget youre eating something healthy.
- Its endlessly customizable with whatever fruit or nuts you have on hand, which has saved me from grocery runs more times than Id like to admit.
02 -
- The butter can go from perfectly browned to burnt in seconds, so remove it from heat immediately when it smells nutty and develops amber flecks.
- Cold milk added directly to hot brown butter can cause dangerous spattering, so either let the butter cool slightly or warm the milk first.
03 -
- For an even deeper flavor, toast the dry quinoa in a separate pan before adding it to the brown butter this double-toasting method creates remarkable depth.
- The residual heat in the covered pot continues cooking quinoa, so always remove it from heat when theres still a touch of liquid visible at the bottom.