This crispy quinoa recipe adds a beautiful crunch to all your favorite salads. Every time I go to Mendicino Farms, I order their kale salad topped with crispy quinoa, which, in my opinion, makes the salad. I’ve wanted to show you how to make crispy quinoa for a while now. So, let’s get cooking!
Quinoa is a superfood that contains magnesium, iron, zinc, folate, manganese, calcium, and a healthy serving of protein. It’s a great addition to your diet.
Making toasted quinoa requires only a few simple ingredients and a baking sheet.
Ingredients
quinoa: cook the quinoa following the package directions
extra virgin olive oil: toss the quinoa in a few teaspoons of olive oil
salt: add a pinch of salt and other spices if desired
Directions
Step 1: Cook the quinoa (or use leftover quinoa)
Bring the water with a little bit of salt to a boil. Add the quinoa and return to a boil.
Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the quinoa. Simmer covered for 15-20 minutes.
✏️ NOTE: Quinoa directions vary, and different water ratios are used for quinoa. For cooking one cup of quinoa, I have seen everything from one and one-quarter cups of water to two cups and everything in between.
Follow the package directions for the brand of quinoa you are using. A 1:1.5 quinoa to water-ratio is pretty solid in almost every instance.
👉 Check out this post for step-by-step instructions on how to make quinoa.
Make Crispy Quinoa in the oven
Preheat the oven to 375℉.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.
Toss the quinoa with the olive oil and salt. Add spices if desired.
Spread the quinoa evenly on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
Toast the quinoa in the oven until it is golden brown and crispy, about 20 minutes. To ensure it cooks evenly, toss and redistribute the quinoa a few times during cooking.
How to Use Crispy Quinoa in Your meals
Top your favorite salad or soup
Add to a yogurt bowl topped with fruit
Sprinkle on a stirfry
Add to your favorite roasted vegetables
How to store crispy quinoa
Store crispy quinoa in an airtight container for up to a week.
Tips For Perfect Crispy Quinoa
To make oven-roasted quinoa crispy, start by cooking it until it is fluffy. For tips on cooking quinoa, check out my post on how to cook quinoa.
After cooking your quinoa, spread it on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let it dry for about 20 minutes before roasting. This step isn’t essential, but it will shorten your oven time.
Roast the quinoa at 375℉ until it is golden brown. Toss the quinoa a few times during the cooking process to ensure it is roasted evenly.
It’s important to spread the quinoa evenly to ensure the crispiest result. If the quinoa isn’t spread out enough, the heat can’t reach all the grains, and it won’t get as crispy.
There are so many ways to season this crispy quinoa. Experiment with your favorite flavors. A few ideas are:
✼ smoked or sweet paprika, garlic, and onion powder
✼ cayenne or Aleppo pepper for some spice
✼ nutritional yeast
✼ za’atar or Greek seasoning blend
✼ cinnamon, cardamom, and allspice
Did you love this recipe?
Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating and a comment below ⬇️
I love hearing from you in the comments; & your feedback helps other readers and helps me continue offering recipes at no cost. Drop a comment 👇
Crispy Quinoa Recipe
Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark
Once you make this crispy quinoa for salad you’ll want to try it on other things like roasted vegetables or even yogurt with fruit compote. This crispy quinoa is easy to make and a healthy addition to your meal.
Start by cooking the quinoa. Use a 2:1 water to quinoa ratio.
1 cup quinoa, 2 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt
Preheat the oven to 375℉.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.
Toss the quinoa with the olive oil and salt. Add spices if desired.
2 teaspoons olive oil
Spread the quinoa evenly on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
Toast the quinoa in the oven until it is golden brown and crispy. About 20 minutes. You’ll want to toss and redistribute the quinoa a few times during cooking to ensure it cooks evenly.
Sign In to add your own private notes
Serving: 0.25 cupCalories: 87kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 3gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.3gSodium: 295mgFiber: 1gCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg
