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    Home » Recipes » Sweet Things/Desserts

    Quinoa Rice Pudding (Low Sugar)

    February 12, 2017 By Monika Last Updated February 3, 2022 25 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This deliciously creamy quinoa pudding is a healthier alternative to traditional rice pudding. It's high in protein, low in sugar and ready in as little as 20 minutes.  Perfect as a healthier dessert or snack any time.

    Quinoa pudding with fruit compote in 2 dishes with spoons in background.

    Making quinoa pudding is an easy and delicious way of including quinoa in your diet.  It's creamy and rich though made with hardly any fat and a very moderate amount of sugar.  It's also very quick and easy to make and uses a handful of pantry ingredients.

    Quinoa has long been known as a nutritional powerhouse high in protein, fibre and minerals.  It's also very easy to prepare and has endless culinary uses.  In this recipe it takes the place of traditional rice and creates a delicious, satisfying, healthier dessert or snack you can enjoy with lots of different toppings.

    Quinoa pudding ingredients

    This quinoa pudding is made using white quinoa and semi-skimmed (light) milk.  I also used vanilla extract and cinnamon for added flavour and sweetened this dessert with maple syrup.

    Once cooked stir in a spoonful of mascarpone cheese for a luxuriously creamy finish. 

    Quinoa pudding ingredients in individual dishes.

    Do I have to presoak the quinoa

    No, you don't although you can if you normally do and prefer to.  While it's true that quinoa can sometimes taste a little bitter and soaking it for 2 hours can prevent that it is not necessary to soak it for this recipe.  All the other ingredients in the recipe contain some amount of sweetness and your quinoa pudding will definitely not taste bitter.

    Step-by-step recipe instructions

    1.Rinse and drain the quinoa and place in a small pot.  Add most of the milk and bring to the boil stirring often.

    Quinoa with milk in saucepan.

    2. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes stirring frequently.

    Quinoa pudding in saucepan with spoon.

    3. Add the vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon, pinch of salt and the rest of the milk and continue simmering for 5-6 minutes until the pudding has thickened and the quinoa is fully cooked.  If you need to cook it a little longer add a splash of milk or water as the mixture will thicken further.

    Creamy quinoa pudding with spice in pot with spoon.

    4. Remove from the heat, stir through the mascarpone and serve hot. Alternatively chill before serving.

    Creamy quinoa pudding with dollop of mascarpone in pot with spoon.

    Substitutions

    • Milk: I used regular milk but oat, almond or hazelnut milk would work well too.
    • Mascarpone: If you want to enjoy this dessert vegan use coconut cream or vegan mascarpone.
    • Maple syrup: This can be replaced by honey, agave syrup, coconut sugar or any other sweetener. You could also sweeten this pudding with mashed ripe banana (stir it in once the pudding has been cooked).
    • Cinnamon: You can omit it or use another spice such as a little ground ginger or nutmeg (just a sprinkle). You could also use a bit of each. Pumpkin spice is also a good alternative.

    Top tips and FAQs

    • It is important to stir this pudding frequently as it's cooking to prevent it sticking to the pot.
    • You can serve this easy quinoa dessert with toasted nuts or seeds, fresh fruit, fruit compote (as I have done) or simply enjoy it on its own.  Serve warm or chilled. 
    • If you want to sweeten this pudding with mashed banana do so after the pudding has been cooked.
    • The pudding will thicken as it cools so you may want to add a splash of water or milk to loosen the consistency.
    • Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
    • Not suitable for freezing.

    Quinoa pudding with fruit in round dish.

    You might also like

    • Quinoa Raspberry Smoothie Bowl with Prunes
    • Overnight Quinoa with Banana (Low Carb)
    • Quinoa Chocolate Porridge with Banana

    Check out also this collection of 27 everyday healthy cacao recipes.

    Keep in touch!

    If you make this quinoa pudding recipe I'd love to know how it turned out for you. Did you make any swaps? Let me know in the comments below, thanks!

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    Recipe

    Quinoa pudding with fruit compote in 2 dishes with spoons in background.

    Quinoa Pudding Recipe (Low Sugar)

    This deliciously creamy quinoa pudding is a healthier alternative to traditional rice pudding. It's high in protein, low in sugar and ready in as little as 20 minutes.  Perfect as a healthier dessert or snack any time.
    4.94 from 15 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: vegetarian
    Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 18 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 3 servings
    Calories: 226kcal
    Author: Monika Dabrowski

    Ingredients

    • ⅔ cup (110 g) raw quinoa rinsed
    • 1 cup+1tbsp (260 ml) milk regular, almond or oat, adjust the amount to your taste
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1½ tablespoons maple syrup or to taste
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1 tablespoon mascarpone cheese or heavy cream/double cream
    • Pinch of fine sea salt

    Instructions

    • Rinse and drain the quinoa and place in a small pot.  Add most of the milk and bring to the boil stirring often. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes stirring frequently.
    • Add the vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon, pinch of salt and the rest of the milk and continue simmering for 5-6 minutes until the pudding has thickened and the quinoa is fully cooked.  If you need to cook it a little longer add a splash of milk or water as the mixture will thicken further.
    • Remove from the heat, stir through the mascarpone and serve hot. Alternatively chill before serving.

    Notes

    • It is important to stir this pudding frequently as it's cooking to prevent it sticking to the pot.
    • You can serve this easy quinoa dessert with toasted nuts or seeds, fresh fruit, fruit compote (as I have done) or simply enjoy it on its own.  Serve warm or chilled. 
    • If you want to sweeten this pudding with mashed banana do so after the pudding has been cooked.
    • The pudding will thicken as it cools so you may want to add a splash of water or milk to loosen the consistency.
    • Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
    • Not suitable for freezing.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 44mg | Potassium: 359mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 240IU | Calcium: 148mg | Iron: 2mg

    *Nutritional information is automatically generated and should be considered as an estimate.

    **A note about baking: If using a fan-assisted oven refer to your appliance's instructions and adjust the temperature accordingly.

    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @Monika8021 or tag #EverydayHealthyRecipes!

     

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    Comments

      4.94 from 15 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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    1. Steve says

      March 12, 2023 at 3:05 am

      4 stars
      Careful to cool thoroughly-it takes longer than expected. Good nutty flavor, would be a fun mix in to oatmeal or yogurt.

      Reply
      • Monika says

        March 12, 2023 at 9:55 am

        Thanks for the feedback:)

        Reply
    2. Angie says

      November 05, 2022 at 2:10 pm

      Is the purpose of the mascarpone cheese to simply add creaminess? That is not an ingredient I typically have on hand and not sure I want to purchase a tub for 1 tbsp of use - any other healthy replacement suggestions? Would Skyr yogurt work?

      Reply
      • Monika says

        November 07, 2022 at 10:04 am

        Yes, if you've used it before in other recipes and found that it adds creaminess. This really depends on personal preference. Because Skyr contains no fat you may need to add a little more to get that creamy consistency but also keep in mind that it's sour so try not to add too much. Hope this helps:)

        Reply
        • Alice Cook says

          August 29, 2023 at 5:49 pm

          Would plain yogurt be an acceptable substitute for the marscapone?

          Reply
          • Monika says

            August 29, 2023 at 11:44 pm

            It should be fine, you can also try cream cheese or heavy cream/double cream.

            Reply
    3. Zeba@Food For The Soul says

      February 18, 2017 at 9:28 pm

      Looks amazing, healthy and delicious. You made it look so simple 🙂

      Reply
      • Monika says

        February 18, 2017 at 9:54 pm

        Thank you! It really is very simple:)

        Reply
    4. Corina says

      February 16, 2017 at 3:40 pm

      This sounds so tasty! It's a lovely inventive way of using quinoa too and definitely something I'd like to try!

      Reply
      • Monika says

        February 16, 2017 at 6:23 pm

        Thank you Corina! I hope you like it if you do try it:)

        Reply
    5. Agness of Run Agness Run says

      February 16, 2017 at 1:47 pm

      The colour of this pudding is so attractive! Lovely combination of flavours, it looks worth a try!

      Reply
      • Monika says

        February 16, 2017 at 6:19 pm

        Thank you! Glad you like the recipe:)

        Reply
    6. Mandy Mazliah says

      February 15, 2017 at 5:12 pm

      This looks heavenly Monika - I just love that colour! #CookBlogShare

      Reply
      • Monika says

        February 15, 2017 at 8:55 pm

        Thank you Mandy! Cherries are great for making food look good, aren't they?

        Reply
    7. Balvinder says

      February 15, 2017 at 4:22 pm

      What a delicious and pretty quinoa pudding!

      Reply
      • Monika says

        February 15, 2017 at 4:27 pm

        Thank you! It was quite tasty.

        Reply
    8. Jacqui Bellefontaine says

      February 15, 2017 at 1:34 pm

      I love a traditional rice pudding but wow this looks really interesting. I haven't cooked with Quinoa much (shamed to say) I shall have to change that.

      Reply
      • Monika says

        February 15, 2017 at 2:08 pm

        Thank you! I am a huge fan of quinoa and the more I cook with it the more I like it, much to my children's despair:) They'd eat pizza instead anytime!

        Reply
    9. Eb Gargano / easypeasyfoodie.com says

      February 15, 2017 at 10:12 am

      What a lovely dessert idea! I've often thought about using quinoa in a pudding but never quite got round to it! And I love how you've used frozen cherries - making this easy and economical too!! Eb x

      Reply
      • Monika says

        February 15, 2017 at 12:54 pm

        Thank you! I experiment with quinoa all the time, not all my experiments are successful but this one was:)

        Reply
    10. Monika says

      February 15, 2017 at 7:54 am

      Thanks! Feel the same way about cherries:)

      Reply
    11. All That I'm Eating says

      February 14, 2017 at 2:08 pm

      I never thought about using quinoa for a dessert, great idea.

      Reply
      • Monika says

        February 14, 2017 at 2:17 pm

        Thank you! Glad you like it:)

        Reply
    12. hijackedbytwins says

      February 14, 2017 at 1:47 pm

      Love quinoa and cherries! This looks delicious, quinoa is such a versatile ingredient isn't it. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x

      Reply
      • Monika says

        February 14, 2017 at 1:59 pm

        Thank you! Yes, I agree about quinoa being so versatile, it's great in so many dishes.

        Reply

    Hi, I am Monika, welcome to Everyday Healthy Recipes! This blog is all about simple recipes with a healthy twist, old classics with a modern take, and an occasional Polish dish thrown into the mix - all easy to make and delicious, perfect for everyday cooking.

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