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Quinoa Pudding with Mango and Pineapple

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title
Inspiration. Is it an ephemeral, elusive bit of magic? Something people lie in wait for, sometimes living life only from one flash of brilliance to the next…the time in between inconsequential and forgotten. Or is it something that is ever present? Slyly camouflaged all around us…just waiting for us to notice?

I’d like to think it is that latter. That inspiration truly exists among us and can be found in the everyday. That it is precisely in the everyday where brilliance thrives. That it is inspiration that lies in wait for us, and not the other way around.

It doesn’t take much to inspire me or make me smile in wonder. The scent of a mangoes ripening on my dining room table. The way bread dough comes together. Butter melting. The slight tickle of really long earrings brushing against my bare shoulder. What happens to vegetables when you roast them. Nice stationary. My baby’s giggle. My friends.

And all of you. Those of you that always leave your comments here even when I’ve been terribly delinquent. Those of you that are silent but keep dropping in. You who leave helpful hints and answer my sometimes amateurish questions. You who cheer me on. You who I have met. You who I have yet to meet.

Another place where I find endless inspiration is other blogs. Food bloggers’ passion, and the delicious results of that passion, never fails to inspire me. This beautiful pudding is one such example.

Quinoa Pudding with Mango and Pineapple
(adapted from Cannelle at Vanille)

  • 3 – 3 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 1/4 cup dark muscovado sugar
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
  • 1/2 cup mango chunks

– Rinse quinoa in a strainer for a few seconds.
– Combine 3 cups of the milk and the sugar in a saucepan and bring to a simmer.
– Add the quinoa and stir. Reduce heat to medium low and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring every few minutes, especially in the latter part of cooking so your quinoa doesn’t stick.
– If mixture starts looking too dry, or you would like a more liquid pudding, add the extra 1/2 cup of milk. I didn’t have too although I must admit I do like a fairly squidgy pudding.
– Ladle pudding into bowls, cups, or glasses (as I did here) and top with mango and pineapples.

Anyone who has visited Aran’s gorgeous blog knows that it is bursting at the seams with charm and beauty. A virtual stroll through her pages always leaves me inspired. When I saw this pudding I knew I had to recreate it – not only did it look enticing, it was a quinoa version of arroz con leche (which my mum makes and I love!). I decided to make mine with our local dark muscovado sugar, whose deep molasses-y flavor got on perfectly with the quinoa’s earthiness. Instead of strawberries, I topped mine with pineapples and mangoes…our intensely sweet summer fruits. The juicy mangoes were a gift from another food blogging friend. Yet one more thing that inspires me – the generosity of food bloggers who are so willing to share even if they haven’t really “met” the person at the other end (thank you Divina!)!

This blog has always been a very personal space for me – a place where I journal my life in the kitchen (and sometimes outside of it too!). But over the course of almost five years you (yes you!) have, happily, become a part of it. No, it isn’t my birthday, nor my blog’s birthday, nor any occasion of distinction. Just another lovely everyday in which I’d like to say thank YOU for the inspiration! 🙂

Comments

  1. oh i am loving this one mangoes always gets me and paired with quinoa – wow. i think i missed this on aran's blog! but got to make it now!

    Reply

  3. Your blog has been an inspiration too, to all of us newbies. I'm supposed to make some brown rice pudding but the heat is just too much. But since quinoa cooks faster, I might try this soon. I'm glad you love the mangoes. You're welcome Joey. It's a pleasure. You want some avocados next time?

    Reply

  6. superb pudding. am totally gonna try it out this weekend.

    and you're right, inspiration doesnt come in a flash of blinding light, it's more like the constant undercurrent of mundane everyday things 🙂

    LOVE your blog!

    Reply

  7. divina introduced me to your blog, and i've been a follower since.
    this is such a lovely post;one of the reasons why I always visit… i love the ordinary, mundane things… just noticing, basking the beauty of life's simple blessings just like this beautiful quinoa pudding with mango and pineapple… take a look at it… what a delightful sight!

    Reply

  8. What a lovely, lovely pudding. It almost looks like a sago pudding, but using quinoa is a great idea. I don't use quinoa a lot, but when I do it's always in savoury dishes. I'm going to have to try this one out though.

    I think you're right about inspiration being ever present and founded in the everyday. Well it certainly is for me anyway. And it's always when I take a few moments, step back from the day-to-day routine and breath that it creeps up on me.

    Good stuff.

    Reply

  9. I've been thinking about trying quinoa as a breakfast food but wasn't really sure how to make it yummy. This post solves that problem. Thanks!

    Reply

  12. Hi Meeta! Right now is the perfect time over here to eat mangoes…nice and chilled to beat the summer heat! This is a great variation for it 🙂 Aran’s has strawberries and pistachios, another great combination!

    Hi Barbara! Aw! Thanks!!! 🙂 It’s delicious…hope you do try it!

    Hi Divina! Thank you! So happy to hear that 🙂 Thank a bunch again for the yummy mangoes! Avocados?? *faints* If they also need a home I’d be so glad to take them 😉

    Hi Rosa! It does 🙂

    Hi Ximena! This is like an earthier arroz con leche…I really liked it! I’m thinking of making a batch with lemon rind and carabao’s (our local water buffalo) milk next time, the way my mom makes her arroz con leche 🙂

    Hi Loshini! Thank you! 🙂 Yes, a constant undercurrent, exactly! Hope you like the pudding 🙂

    Hi Malou! Thanks so much for your kind words 🙂 When we find the beauty in the everyday, well, it simply gives us all the more opportunities for happiness!

    Hi Kathryn! It does, doesn’t it? But healthier! Yup, inspiration is always there waiting for us to that that “step back” and see it 🙂 Plus it’s free!

    Hi Monica! I have another breakfast quinoa post…you can check out my breakfast archives 🙂

    Aw! Thanks Anh! Glad you enjoy it!

    Hi Rico! Yes, you are right, and quite a healthy alternative at that!

    Reply

  13. Thanks for this post, Joey! Before Mila left, she gave me some of her pantry's contents. One of the items was quinoa. I took it because I was curious about it, but didn't know how to use it so I forgot all about it. Now I can try cooking it…and as a dessert, too! 😀

    If this pudding tastes like arroz con leche, then would cinnamon go well with it, too? And how many servings does the recipe make? I think I'm the only one at home who'll eat this, so if it makes a lot, I hope it can keep for a while in the fridge.

    Reply

  15. oh yum! can feel the quinoa grains popping already! Thank YOU for sharing your recipes, thoughts and life events with us – always a lovely read 🙂

    Reply

  17. Hi Jo – it's you we have to thank as well for the inspiration – I never fail to get my share when I visit your blog! The pudding looks yummy… cannelle's recipes are not only gorgeous looking – they are delicious as well.

    Reply

  18. Hi Katrina! Quinoa is great! And this sweet preparation is very easy to do 🙂 It doesn’t taste exactly like arroz con leche because the texture of quinoa is different (it does not get as soft as rice) and it has more of its own flavor (as opposed to rice that easily takes on other flavors). That being said I am sure it would go well with cinnamon because of its earthiness…in fact, I was thinking of infusing this with chai masala flavor next time! This will make about 4 servings and I was the only one to eat this too, and it kept just fine in the fridge 🙂

    Hi Christina! It is lovely 🙂 There are a number of posts out there on quinoa for breakfast cereal that provide lots of ideas for sweet quinoa preparations! 🙂

    Hi Ling! Thank you 🙂 I’m really loving quinoa!

    Hi Pippa! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Hope you do get to try it!

    Hi Trissa! Aw thanks so much! I’m so happy you enjoy my blog 🙂 Yes, Aran’s recipes and photos are both gorgeous and delicious!

    Reply

  19. This was a wonderfully written post that it made me smile 🙂 I agree that inspiration can be found anywhere and you do not have to look for it, you just have to learn how to see the beauty in everything around you.

    Reply

  21. This is a must-try. So glad you shared it. I've been using quinoa a lot lately and was looking for a breakfast version. It looks so good!

    Reply

  24. Hi Brian! Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the post 🙂 Very true!

    Hi Jane! Thanks for stopping by! Do you have a branch of Healthy Options in Cebu? Because that’s where I bought my quinoa here in Manila 🙂

    Hi Lori! Hope you like it! I also have another breakfast version here…just look under my breakfast archives 🙂

    Hi Suzana! Thank you too 🙂 Hope you do get to try it out one day!

    Hi April! They do don’t they? Only healthier 😉

    Reply

  28. I tried Quinoa the other day… not sure I totally liked it. I don't know if I cooked it right. But this sure looks good. I think I should give it a second chance. haha

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  29. Joey, don't worry about it. You're not delinquent at all and even if you were, you've got Lil C to take care of. Take your time and we'll always be here to enjoy your posts. I'm glad I saw this one – those are two of my favorite fruits ever, tag-teaming on a delicious pud!

    Reply

  31. Hi Ash! Maybe you’ll like it better in a sweet preparation like this 🙂

    Hi Manggy! Thanks! Life certainly did get much busier! 🙂 But in a wonderful way 🙂 These are my two favorites also!

    Hi Didi! I get mine at Healthy Options 🙂

    Reply

  33. I am not sure if I dare to try that one…. quinoa pudding…hm… original for sure…
    You got a great food blog, very inspiring.

    Reply

  35. Hi Redmenace! It’ll work just like rice pudding…feel free to add in anything you would with your favorite rice pudding 🙂

    Thanks Mami! This is an easy and yummy way to have Quinoa for dessert 🙂

    Hi Vegan Tickles! Of course 😉

    Reply

  36. I'm recently obsessed with quinoa. I simmer mine in almond milk at a quinoa/milk ratio of 1/2, and then add raw honey, toasted pecans, bananas and strawberries. I literally eat it every morning. Your blog is beautiful. Glad I found it!

    Reply

  40. Wow, it looks good.. I'll see if I can recreate the recipe at home… Then I'll pot it on a site my friends and I recommend – Its called Yummy Cebu – check it out its great!!!

    Reply

  41. Hello Melange a Trois! That sounds so good!!!

    Hi Midge! So sorry I missed that…sounds divine! Hope it all went well!

    Hi Gattina! Aw!!! Thank you…I’m so happy you feel that way! I love visiting your blog too! 🙂

    Hi Mccoy! Thank you 🙂 On my sidebar, right under the About me, is the link to subscribe in a reader 🙂

    Hi Toni B! Thanks will check it out 🙂

    Reply

  43. Hmmm, I love homemade pudding and pudding with mango – that's heaven 🙂 I simply have to try this one 🙂 Thank you for sharing.

    Cheers

    Yummita

    Reply

  50. Truly blew my mind here. Never considered (and now i feel silly for it, of course) this style of preparation with Quinoa. Its a wonderful grain, but i've recently run dry on new ways to put it to use.

    Thanks for the inspiration, immensely helpful!

    Reply

  53. wow. what a great recipe. my peruvian mother in law regularly sends me quinoa from peru, i used to just boil it like rice. now this is a new way to prepare it. thanks.

    Reply

  54. This looks DELISH! I've never tried Quinoa Pudding but it definitely is worth a shot. The fact that its made with mango and pineapple reminded me of some of the desserts I saw on this show called Extreme Chef that are all made from fruits contestants collect from an island.
    Great job!

    Reply

  55. Going to try this with coconut milk as my partner is intolerant to milk. Regularly eat Quinoa as a savoury flavoured with tomato
    and black olives.

    Reply

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