“Can we have more quinoa for breakfast???” OK, so that isn’t exactly a real question that I get asked. But there’s no reason it shouldn’t be. This fiber rich breakfast is full of all sorts of tasty morning favorites: eggs, sausage, tomatoes, cheese, onions & peppers. The red quinoa is just the right thing to bring it all together. Read on for more about this quinoa and egg breakfast skillet.
As Vlad, one of my Instagram followers, astutely pointed out, this could be a signature dished called a “Tortilla de Quinoa” were I running a Spanish Tapas restaurant. I could easily see it being a top breakfast item, served with some fresh fruit and a churro. And why not, it seems that there are more and more ways to eat quinoa for breakfast all the time.
How to Use Quinoa for Breakfast
In many ways, this is sort of a skillet version of my Spinach, Ham & Egg Quinoa Cups that I made a few months ago. Just like those, this is super kid friendly. Our 20 month old couldn’t decide whether he wanted to pick out the green peppers or the sausage in between shoveling large handfuls in his mouth.
It seems cooking with quinoa is still pretty darn popular. CTA trains in Chicago are currently running a campaign from Ecuador promoting Free Trade and using quinoa as a central part of the ad. That, a former #1 recipe overall on this blog is my recipe for Loaded Veggie Quinoa Sliders.
Make Your Egg and Quinoa Breakfast in a Skillet
If you use a cast iron pan to make this as well, and it’s really well seasoned, then this will be a cinch. Sometimes baking egg dishes can be a real disaster for whoever is pulling clean-up duty. Just make sure to oil or butter all the way up on the pan walls, not just on the bottom. The butter will also help make for a nice, crispy brown crust.
An Alternative Quinoa and Egg Breakfast Option
- 1 Cup Red Quinoa
- 2 Cups Water
- 3 Sausage Patties or more
- 6 Eggs
- 2 Teaspoons Your Favorite Hot Sauce
- 1 Green Pepper chopped
- 1 Medium White Onion chopped
- 1 15 Ounce Can Chopped Tomatoes drained
- 1/2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
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Bring the water to a boil and add the red quinoa. Cook for about 20 minutes over a low simmer until the water has been absorbed. Let this cool before you work it with the eggs
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In a cast iron skillet, cook the sausage patties
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In a large mixing bowl, beat the six eggs and season with salt and pepper
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Add the pepper, onion, tomatoes and cheese to the bowl and mix well
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When the quinoa has cooled, mix it in the bowl as well
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Bring the skillet temperature up to medium and melt the butter. Coat the skillet well with the butter, including up the sidewalls
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Slowly pour in the egg mixture, stir gently and cook for about 5 minutes - until it starts to bubble
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Transfer the skillet to a 350 degree oven and cook for 20-25 minutes. When a fork inserted in the middle comes out clean, the eggs are fully cooked.
Perfect timing – I happen to have a box of red quinoa in my kitchen which I have exactly no idea what to do with! I'm going to try your recipe out next weekend. I'll keep you posted!
Awesome…can't wait to hear how it turns out!
Prepping this for breakfast in the a.m. only have white quinoa and I know the taste won't be the same, but my tomatoes are spicy smoked, so left out the hot sauce and am looking forward to throwing this together for breakfast!
Hi Susan – I think the spicy, smoked tomatoes are a great addition….I'm sure they brought more to the table than red quinoa alone would have. Hope it turned out great! Thanks for sharing.