We had a bit of an Iron Chef Cook-Off at work the other day.

I never win these things – didn’t win this one, either – but I did have fun coming up with the recipe.  Blackberry Quinoa Pudding.  Leave it to me to take an otherwise healthy ingredient and add butter, milk, sugar, and eggs to it.

It’s a knack I have.

While it didn’t win, it was well-received and I had a couple of requests for the recipe.  So here goes…

I used blackberries and strained blackberry jam, but any fruit will work.

Blackberry Quinoa Pudding

• 1/2 cup quinoa – cooked according to package instructions
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 2 tbsp butter
• blackberries
• blackberry jam

Mix sugar and cornstarch in saucepan.  Add milk and whisk until smooth.  Cook over medium heat until thickened – about 3-4 minutes.  beat egg in small bowl.  Add a bit of the hot milk mixture to the egg to temper.  Add it all back to the pot and cook until thickened – another 3-4 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and butter – stirring until butter is melted.

Stir in cooked quinoa, mixing well.

Layer pudding with blackberries or fruit of choice.

Serve warm or cold.

It really is a simple dessert and takes no time at all to make.