Quinoa Baby Food (Easy Baby Cereal)

Quinoa Baby Food (Easy Baby Cereal)

Transform nutrient-rich quinoa into a delicious baby food—with options for older kids and parents to share it—using this simple method. (Find flavor variations and storage tips too.)

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings

Calories 49kcal

Author Amy Palanjian

Equipment

Ingredients

1/2 cup quinoa
1 cup water
1/4 cup breastmilk, formula, or nondairy milk (optional)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1/2 cup fruit puree (optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Add the quinoa to a fine-mesh sieve and rinse under cold water for about 1 minute. This helps to remove the tannins that can make quinoa taste bitter.
Add the 1 cup water to a medium pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the quinoa, reduce the heat to medium-high and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed and the quinoa is tender. (Add 1/4-1/2 cup additional water if the water is absorbed but the quinoa is not yet fully tender.
Turn off the heat. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes.
Add quinoa to a blender. Blend, adding a small amount of liquid at a time, until the mixture is very smooth. It may take a minute.
Stir in cinnamon and/or fruit puree if desired. Thin out with additional liquid as desired.
(To serve this with a thicker, more textured consistency, simply place a small amount of the cooked quinoa into a bowl, add some nondairy milk, breastmilk, or formula and add cinnamon and fruit as desired. For kids over age 1, you can drizzle on a little honey, maple syrup, or nut butter too.)

Video

Notes

Start with a smaller amount of liquid when blending and add a little at a time to thin it out to your liking.
You can use water, breastmilk, formula, or unsweetened nondairy milk for blending. (I prefer to use water, then stir in milk right before serving.)
Add more liquid to this cereal as needed—it firms up as it sits.
Add another puree to make quinoa baby food combinations. Favorite options include Strawberry Puree, Banana Puree, Sweet Potato Puree, and Peanut Butter Baby Food. You can also try a savory version by stirring in Avocado Puree.
Add cinnamon, cardamom, dried ginger, or another favorite spice as desired.
Add a sprinkle of hemp seeds, chia seeds, or ground flaxseeds to add more healthy fats.
Skip blending and simply mix fully cooked quinoa with nondairy milk for babies aged 8-9 months old—or for toddlers, kids, or adults as a breakfast cereal option.

Nutrition