A good breakfast can set us up to feel great all day. As part of our nature, the way we start our days tends to be how we end them – so if we start our morning with a nutritious plant-based breakfast, we are way more likely to make healthier choices throughout the day. I have been turning to this chocolate quinoa granola recipe for years, and it’s so perfect that I never think about purchasing granola. Made with oats, sprouted quinoa, raw cacao, chia seeds, walnuts and dates, this granola is nutritious, comforting and will set you up to have the best day ever!
I could eat granola with homemade nut milk for every meal, especially for dinner when I’m feeling small or had a long day. I always use the word ‘comforting’ to describe hearty granola, because when I feel homesick and inclined to go back to the roots, it gives me that feeling of being a kid and having my parents take care of me. Can anyone else relate? This particular recipe also makes me feel so energized, so its one of those foods I know I can never go wrong with. With superfoods like raw cacao, quinoa and chia seeds, this chocolate quinoa granola is packed with healthy nutrients and antioxidants that shield our cells from free-radical damage, and have anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. This granola is so much better than the vast majority of granolas that are available at the grocery store (but if you must buy one, Go Raw is awesome!), which are often made with oils and refined sugar.
I recommend using sprouted quinoa (or a sprouted grain blend) for this chocolate quinoa granola, although the recipe will work perfectly with normal quinoa. Sprouted grains are healthier because grains and legumes contain enzyme inhibitors that make them difficult to digest. These enzyme inhibitors play a crucial role in nature – they keep seeds intact even after passing through animals’ digestive systems, thereby allowing seeds to spread throughout an ecosystem. Unfortunately for us, that means we need to sprout seeds, nuts and legumes to make the nutrients bioavailable and easier for our digestive systems to break down.
PrintChocolate Quinoa Granola
- Prep Time: 25 mins
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 25 mins
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup oats
- 1 cup sprouted quinoa or grain blend
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1/3 cup raw cacao powder
- 1/8 tsp pink Himalayan salt
- Optional: 1/4 cup raw cacao nibs or vegan chocolate/carob chips
Instructions
- Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan, then add the quinoa. Reduce the heat and allow to simmer until tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed (15-20 minutes).
- Process dates and walnuts together in processor or high-speed blender. You don’t want to create a paste but you do want to have very small chunks.
- Mix all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl (drain quinoa if needed before adding).
- You should find that the mixture sticks together pretty easily. To create small granola pieces, roll a handful into a ball and then break it into smaller pieces as you put it on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 2.5-3 hours on 170°F/75°C or use a dehydrator. You can alternatively cook it for 1 hour on 300°F/150°C if pressed for time, but slow-baking it will preserve the nutrients most effectively. Keep in mind that baking times will depend on specific ovens, so testing the texture every 15 minutes is a good idea.
- Store in a glass jar in the fridge. Optional: add cacao nibs or chocolate/carob chips.
Foods are at their optimal nutritional value when eaten in their raw state, and percentage nutrient loss is dependent on cooking method and duration. For the purpose of getting the most out of my meals, I like to bake certain foods at a low temperature over a long period of time. A dehydrator would be perfect for this recipe, but if you don’t have one just follow the baking instructions in the recipe and the vast majority of nutrients will be preserved. Note: this recipe is not fully raw, as we will be cooking the quinoa first.
Can you tell I love chia pudding?! This chocolate quinoa granola is amazing for topping chia puddings and smoothie bowls. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also use this recipe to make granola cookies! In that case I recommend adding between 2 – 4 tablespoons of your favorite nut butter, and half a mushed banana into the mixture (this will ensure that the cookies don’t crumble). Thanks for coming to the blog and please leave a comment if you have questions or if you end up making this granola! Sat Nam and lots of LOVE 🙂
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