Quinoa is an edible seed, that contains fiber and protein, and is grounded to make quinoa flour. It is one of the most healthy and suitable flours used in baking. Although quinoa can be hard to pronounce, it is pronounced as “keen-wa”.
Quinoa flour is a gluten-free flour, used for healthy baked goods and compliments well with anyone on a diet. It can be expensive to buy and many opt to make it at home. However, if you are out of quinoa flour or want to try a new substitute for it. There are many suitable quinoa flour substitutes to try out.
Brown rice flour, oat flour, buckwheat flour, almond flour, coconut flour, tiger nut flour, chickpea flour, millet flour, teff flour, and whole wheat flour are amazing quinoa flour alternatives to try out when baking.
The aforementioned flour substitutes can be easily found at a nearby grocery store or processed at home. They are also gluten-free and highly nutritious like quinoa flour. Read on for a guide on how to use these quinoa flour substitutes, when baking.
Quinoa Flour Explained
Quinoa is a seed grain crop, that is grounded to make flour. Quinoa flour is gluten-free and considered a whole grain because it is not refined, leaving its original nutrients intact. The flour color is either white or creamy yellow and is rich in protein, fiber, and iron.
Quinoa flour imparts a moist, tender texture to baked goods and is great for pancakes, muffins, pizza, or pie cuts. It can also be used to thicken sauces, soups, and stew. You can either buy it at your local supermarket or grind it at home with the food processor.
You may find quinoa flour bitter, but you can reduce the aftertaste by toasting it on a dry skillet, stirring it gently, over medium heat for 5-10 minutes, before adding it to your recipe.
Lastly, below are some quinoa flour alternatives to try out, if you run out of them or want to try something new.
The Best Quinoa Flour Substitutes To Try Today
Curious to find out healthy, gluten-free quinoa flour substitutes to try out when baking? if yes, then continue reading below for the best alternatives to use instead of quinoa flour when baking. They are also easy and affordable to find.
1. Brown rice flour
It is recommended as the closest substitute to quinoa flour, because of the similarity in texture, flavor, and the process of preparation. They are both medium flours, and they both contain similar fiber content, and calories count, and bind well with wet ingredients when baking.
With that said, brown rice flour is easily a very similar flour to quinoa flour, it is also entirely gluten-free, very easy to work with, and has a balanced taste. Measure 7-8 cups of brown rice flour to substitute 1 cup of quinoa flour in a recipe,
2. Oat flour
Oat flour is another ideal alternative to quinoa flour when baking, it is simply made, by grinding a box of oats in your pantry, until it turns to a fine powder. It has a soft texture, mild taste, and is high in protein.
Oat flour offers great health benefits, a rich oatmeal taste, and a silky texture that’s great for quick bread, pancakes, waffles, and muffins. You can the substitute same cup of recommended quinoa flour for your oat flour.
3. Almond flour
Almond flour is a tasty, delicious, and gluten-free flour. If you do not have store-bought almond flour, you can simply grind dry almonds together, and turn them into fine flour.
It makes for a perfect substitute because, of its silky texture, slightly sweet flavor, and consistency, and is ideal for recipes like pancakes, muffins, macarons, and cookies. This flour is a healthy alternative option, loaded with proteins, and helps to regulate blood pressure.
4. Tigernut flour
This is a newly recommended and healthy substitute for quinoa flour in baking recipes. It is produced from the tub of the tiger nut plant and is highly rich in iron, vitamin E, fiber content, and essential oils.
It is gluten-free, grain-free, and highly recommended for a vegan diet. You can use it in dense recipes like cookies and brownies, and it is the same ratio of measurement when substituting for quinoa flour.
5. Coconut flour
Like almond flour, coconut flour is sweet, gluten-free, and rich in fiber. It is made from the by-products of coconut milk, highly loaded with essential nutrients, and great for recipes like banana bread, cookies, cakes, and muffins.
It is a great choice for grain-free diets, also helps to promote weight loss, lowers blood levels, and fights constipation. Measure 1/2 cup for 1 cup of quinoa flour and ensure to add more eggs or other wet ingredients.
6. Buckwheat flour
Buckwheat is another quinoa flour alternative, that is rich in fiber, protein, vitamins, and numerous minerals. This flour is made from ground buckwheats seeds or groats. It is gluten-free, has a nutty and earthy flavor in recipes, and is unrelated to wheat.
For best results, it can be combined with other whole grain flours and is great for pancakes, crepes, quick or yeast bread, and crumb coatings for meat or other proteins.
7. Teff flour
Teff is a staple grain, high in fiber, calcium, protein, and iron. It is commonly grown in Ethiopia and Eritrea, it is ground into flour and used to make a spongy sourdough bread called Injera.
It is used for different purposes and can be paired greatly with other gluten-free flours. Many bakery companies use it to make chocolate desserts, but it is also great for muffins and quick pieces of bread.
8. Chickpea flour
This flour is made from grinding finely dried chickpeas (garbanzo beans), it contains fiber, protein, and iron. It also has a good texture, a nutty earthy flavor, and a useful binding component.
This flour can be used for sweet and savory snacks like pancakes, flatbread, crepes, dumplings, and socca. Simply measure it as a one-to-one ratio with quinoa flour in recipes.
9. Millet flour
It is a healthy quinoa flour substitute, that has a starchy texture, and soft consistency, and is great for gluten-free snacks. It is low in fat but packed with high minerals, antioxidants and vitamins.
It is similar to buckwheat and can be used to make cookies, cakes, and flapjacks. It is better combined with another flour, and you can use it as a substitute 1:1 ratio for quinoa flour.
An additional useful quinoa flour alternative is Whole wheat flour: it is made by grinding wheat kernels into fine powder. It is healthier than white flour because it is not refined and contains healthy nutrients, proteins, and fiber. Although it contains gluten, it is versatile and used for many healthy baked goods and doughs.
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Conclusion
Quinoa flour is a grain-based, gluten-free, and highly nutritious flour. It gives a fluffy texture to baked goods, pizza, and pie crusts. It also acts as a thickening agent for soups, sauces, and stews.
Explained above are ideal and amazing quinoa flour alternatives to try out, if you are out of quinoa flour stock, or want to try out new gluten-free based flours. They are also rich in proteins, minerals, and nutrients and add distinct tastes to any baked goods.