Prebiotic Quinoa Porridge

GLUTEN FREE,  DAIRY FREE, SOY FREE, NUT FREE, REFINED SUGAR FREE


Chilly Autumn mornings are for draping heavy dressing gowns upon weary shoulders, steaming hot drinks nestled in grateful hands, golden sunlight that makes the dewy grass sparkle, and creamy bowls of porridge to warm and nourish us from the inside out.

This porridge is a little unconventional, there are no oats or full cream dairy milk for starters, but please don't let that make you shy away.  It is both soft and creamy, whilst being comforting and gentle on cautious taste buds.  Not to mention this porridge offers your body so much goodness without compromising on taste or texture.  It is also packed with protein and will keep you feeling satisfied right through to lunch.

The inclusion of green banana flour makes this a great option for those looking to increase their intake of prebiotic fibre.  Whilst the slippery elm is a fantastic addition for those who have an unhappy digestive system that needs a little soothing.

I sincerely hope that you can enjoy a bowl of this warm and comforting goodness on a beautiful golden morning as we have in our family.


Recipe (serves 3-4)
1 cup of cooked quinoa
1/2 medium sized zucchini, peeled and finely grated (this should yield between 1/4 - 1/3 cup once grated)
1 large egg
1 1/2 tbsp green banana flour*
1 cup of your favourite plant based milk (I usually opt for coconut or almond for this recipe)
1/2 tsp pure vanilla essence
1 tbsp coconut sugar
OPTIONAL (but highly recommended) 1-2 tbsp slippery elm powder (add an extra 1/4 cup of plant based milk if including the slippery elm)

*You can happily substitute blanched almond meal or chestnut flour for the green banana flour if you wish, but you won't get the same level of prebiotic benefit.

Method
Pop all the ingredients into a medium sized saucepan and whisk until well combined.
Place your saucepan over a medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer whilst stirring occassionally.
Reduce heat to low-medium and allow your porridge to continue cooking, ever so gently, for 5-10 minutes whilst offering an occasional stir.  Once you have achieved a beautifully soft and creamy consistency remove from the heat and ladle into bowls.  Garnish with your favourite seasonal fruit, a drizzle of honey, and a dab of nut butter if you please.
Enjoy!