Quinoa Spinach and Egg Bake (Print View)
Hearty baked dish combining protein-rich quinoa, fresh spinach, and eggs topped with melted cheese.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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
07 - 1/2 cup milk
→ 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
12 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
13 - 1 tbsp olive oil
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease an 8x8 inch baking dish with olive oil or non-stick spray.
02 - Rinse quinoa thoroughly. Combine quinoa and water in a saucepan, bring to boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer 12-15 minutes until water is absorbed. Set aside to cool.
03 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook onion 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add spinach and cook 2-3 minutes until wilted.
04 - Whisk eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a bowl. Stir in cooked quinoa, spinach mixture, parsley, and half the cheese until combined.
05 - Pour mixture into prepared dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake 25-30 minutes until center is set and top is golden brown.
06 - Let cool 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with extra parsley if desired. Serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It genuinely tastes like a warm hug after a long day, the kind of comfort food that also happens to be good for you
- You can prep everything ahead and just pop it in the oven when hunger hits
02 -
- The center might still look slightly jiggly when you take it out, but it will continue setting as it rests. Overbaking leads to rubbery eggs, so trust the process.
- Cold quinoa mixes into the eggs more evenly than hot quinoa, which can partially cook the eggs on contact.
03 -
- Grating your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded makes a huge difference in how smoothly it melts
- Press the cooked quinoa against the side of the pan to remove excess moisture before mixing