This quinoa avocado quiche is a flavorful, healthy alternative to the brunch classic. Instead of a calorie-laden crust, protein-rich quinoa forms a slightly crispy crust to perfectly support the cheesy kale and avocado egg filling.
I was a bit skeptical of how this recipe would turn out. It seemed too simple to just mix together all the ingredients, bake, and end up with the quinoa sinking to the bottom to form a wonderfully crispy crust. But I’m happy to report it really is that easy. And it’s even more delicious 😉
In my Friday weight loss class, one of my patients asked about other ways to incorporate whole grains other than the standard whole wheat products and brown rice. I was taken aback by the simplicity of the question. I think being in the nutrition world as well as reading food blogs daily has made me forget that not everyone has heard of other whole grains, such as quinoa, amaranth, farro, or buckwheat. Not wanting to overwhelm the class with too many funny-sounding grains, I focused on quinoa as I think it’s the perfect grain to start with when branching out from brown rice.
Now quinoa is technically a seed, not a grain, but it often gets lumped in with grains because it has a similar texture and taste of grains like rice. What make quinoa cooler than rice, though, is it is a vegetarian source of complete protein. It also happens to be gluten free, so it’s perfect if you’re cooking for a crowd and aren’t sure about your guests’ food allergies.
One of my favorite products at Trader Joe’s is their crumbled feta with Mediterranean herbs. So yummy! And I used it in this recipe to provide a savory Mediterranean flavor; however, if you can’t find herbed feta at your local grocery store, feel free to use regular feta then add in a dried Mediterranean spice blend.
Bry and I could not get enough of this quiche! The avocado and egg provide a wonderful creaminess that you look for in a quiche, while the quinoa provided a little crisp and chew that we both thoroughly enjoyed. And of course I had to add in some kale for a little nutrition boost 😉
Whether you are entertaining this weekend or want quick and easy leftovers for lunch, I highly recommend heating up the oven and getting your quiche pan out 🙂
So here’s a toast to adding some variety to your grains!
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I love quiche! Never thought to put avocado or quinoa in one. Fabulous!
Thanks Kalegih! I was a bit nervous about putting them in, but the quinoa adds such a great texture and the avocado gets even creamier – give it a shot next time you make one!
I need this now. The flavors in this look so good!
The herbed feta makes this super delicious – definitely make some soon 😉
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