Quinoa Bread

Bread Challenge Week 20

We have been working on adding more whole grains into our diet lately. Well, not so much more volume wise but more variety. Quinoa has made a few appearances in our kitchen and while it is a tough sale flavor wise, Luke knows it is pretty stinkin’ healthy so he is on board. When I noticed the recipe for Quinoa Bread in Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day, Zoë François and Jeff Hertzberg, I figured it was definitely worth it to give it a shot.

The bread requires about 10 minutes of hands on time the first time around and you make enough dough for multiple loaves so subsequent loaves only take about 5 minutes of hands on time which is plus in my book. I really like the idea behind this book, but so far the two recipes I have made from it are a little bland. Admittedly I chose the most basic recipes to start with, but the beauty in these recipes is there flexibility. Besides the numerous variations the books lists I can think of lots of little or big tweaks to make to the recipes while still keeping the basic low hands on time principle of the book.

Just like eating a bowl full of plain quinoa, boring and kind of flavorless, it smells good in the oven though and the texture is perfect balance between soft inside and crispy chewy crust. We tried this bread with peanut butter and jelly, plain fresh from the oven, with roasted garlic and olive oil and with a balsamic reduction sauce. The dips helped add flavor but I still think the bread needed something more.

Even though we didn’t love the flavor this time around, I think I’ll give making this loaf another shot because I think it would be great with some flax seeds added and a little honey for a slight touch of sweetness.

Flavor: 3
Hands on time: 5
Total time: 3
Recipe: 5
versatility: 4
make it again: 3
Catherine: 0
Luke: 0
Maddy: 1

Total Score: 24
(what is this Bread Challenge and how are recipes scored?)

Previous Bread Challenge reviews and scores:
Asiago Herb and Garlic Bread – Week 19
Cranberry Pecan Rye Bread – Week 18
Rotis – Whole Wheat Unleavened Bread- Week 17
Farmhouse White Loaf – Week 16
Honey Whole Wheat Slow Cooker Bread – Week 15
The Easiest Loaf of Bread You’ll Ever Bake – Week 14
Hot Cross Buns – Week 13
100% Whole Wheat Bread – Week 12
Thin Wheat Crackers – Week 11
Irish Soda Bread – Week 10
Double Blueberry Muffins – Week 9
Oatmeal Batter Bread – Week 8
Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls – Week 7
Cheesy Pretzels – Week 6
Light Rye Bread – Week 5
Country-Style Whole-Wheat Pita – Week 4
Carrot Raisin Quick Bread – Week 3
Potato Bread – Week 2
Focaccia – Week 1