Quinoa Spinach and Egg Bake (Printer-friendly)
Fluffy quinoa meets fresh spinach and baked eggs under a cheesy golden topping.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water
→ Vegetables
03 - 5 oz fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy
06 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or mozzarella)
07 - 1/2 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened plant-based)
→ Eggs
08 - 4 large eggs
→ Seasonings
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
11 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
12 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
13 - 1 tbsp olive oil
# How-To Guide:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a medium baking dish (about 8x8 inches) with a little olive oil or non-stick spray.
02 - Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water. In a saucepan, combine quinoa and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Set aside to cool slightly.
03 - In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
04 - Add chopped spinach to the skillet and cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes until wilted. Remove from heat.
05 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir in the cooked quinoa, spinach mixture, parsley, and half of the cheese. Mix until well combined.
06 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly on top.
07 - Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the center is set and the top is golden brown.
08 - Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with extra parsley if desired. Serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It's one of those rare dishes that tastes even better reheated, making your busy mornings feel luxurious
- The combination of quinoa and eggs keeps you satisfied for hours without that heavy breakfast crash
02 -
- I once skipped rinsing the quinoa and my whole family asked why it tasted bitter, so please don't skip that step
- Letting the quinoa cool slightly prevents it from cooking the eggs when you mix them together, which I learned after a scramble incident
03 -
- Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded, it melts so much better and creates that beautiful cheese pull
- Use a glass baking dish if you have one, you can see exactly when the bottom is set and the edges are golden brown