Quinoa, Spinach and Egg Bake

In the lead up to Coeliac Awareness Week (13-20 March), the spotlight is on raising the profile of this disease, which affects at least 1 in 100 Australians. Approximately 75 per cent more Australians remain undiagnosed, and the only medical treatment for coeliac disease is a strict gluten-free diet.

Australian Eggs developed this recipe for Quinoa, Spinach and Egg Bake, which doesn’t contain any wheat and is a tasty, gluten-free option if you are preparing a meal for family or friends with coeliac disease. (Or, if you simply prefer to eat gluten-free.) The simple dish takes just 10 minutes to prepare before baking in the oven.

Sharon Natoli, APD, Director of Food & Nutrition Australia and member of the Egg Nutrition Council (ENC) says, “Having to follow a gluten-free diet can make it more difficult for people with coeliac disease to take in sufficient amounts of important nutrients found in grains, including Vitamin B1, iron and fibre. The Quinoa, Spinach and Egg Bake is a good source of all of these nutrients among others, making this dish a nutritious inclusion into a gluten-free diet.”

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Preparation Time: 10 mins

Cooking Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 8 eggs
• 2 cups quinoa, cooked
• 1 and ¼ cup skim milk
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp thyme, chopped
• 3 cups spinach, roughly chopped
• Pinch of pepper and nutmeg
• 1 cup shredded reduced fat cheese
• ½ punnet cherry tomatoes
• Spray oil

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius.
2. Pour olive oil into a 20cm round baking dish and swirl around.
3. In a bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, garlic, thyme, salt, pepper and nutmeg.
4. Add quinoa and spinach into the baking dish and pour over the egg mixture, stir gently.
5. Cover with a lid or foil and bake until just set for around 30 minutes.
6. Remove the lid, sprinkle with cheese and bake uncovered for a further 15 minutes or until golden. Set aside to cool.
7. Heat a fry pan, spray with oil. Add cherry tomatoes and cook gently until slightly softened. Finish by adding onto the bake.

Cooking tips:

Quinoa can be replaced with cooked brown rice.