This lemon blueberry overnight quinoa recipe is a fun spin on overnight oats. Swapping quinoa flakes for the oats, it's a high protein in protein and fiber!

Lemon Blueberry Overnight Quinoa -- takes only 5 minutes to make and will keep you full all morning long! [vegan]

I recently traveled to Prince Edward Island, Canada and have to tell you, it's one of the most gorgeous places I've ever seen. It reminds me of the rocky coast of Maine, with pine trees lining the shore and jagged rocks jutting into the sea, but what sets this place apart is the sand.

It's red. Not tomato red, but a dark russet color. It's stunning.

And actually, most of the dirt on the island is this color, so as you're driving past the many open fields, there's this amazing contrast between the bright green grass and the red earth. It's because the clay soil is high in iron, so when it's exposed to the air it starts to rust and change color. It's truly spectacular!

The reason I ventured up there was that my friends at Wyman's of Maine invited me, along with a few fellow food bloggers, to tour their wild blueberry fields, the factory where they clean and package the berries, and most importantly to talk about honey bees.

I know that might seem a little strange…what do bees have to do with blueberries? And much to my surprise, bees are actually an integral part of the whole process. Without honey bees we wouldn't even have the berries! In fact, honey bees are responsible for pollinating one-third of the nation's produce!

During our trip we were able to not only learn directly from the Head Bee Keeper about the importance of these little animals, but we actually got to see inside an active hive. We got to put on those big bee suits (and yes, I looked as silly as you would imagine), we got to hold the combs and even taste fresh honey. It was so cool!

The other amazing part of the trip was the food, all of which was centered around wild blueberries. We stayed at this incredible inn, called The Inn at Bay Fortune, which is owned by Chef Michael Smith. The rooms were lovely — they were designed to feel really homey, comfortable and welcoming. I could have lived in a space like that!

And then the food…oh my goodness what an experience!

The Inn has a unique approach to food that I've really never seen before. They focus on three core values: farm, fire and feast; and each meal is centered around those three things. They have a working farm on property where they source the majority of their produce. [the farm] Then everything, like literally everything, is cooked over an open flame. [the fire] And each night dinner is served at large banquet tables where everyone mingles and shares, with an open kitchen and chefs that presented each course. [the feast]

It was something I will never forget and if you ever venture to Prince Edward Island, you absolutely MUST go there. It will blow your mind.

Now…about these blueberries.

I didn't want to spend today's entire post just talking about wild blueberries and how awesome they are, I wanted to give you a quick and easy recipe that you can make using wild blueberries.

In case you aren't familiar with the difference between wild blueberries and regular blueberries, the first thing you'll notice is their size. Wild blueberries are much smaller (I would say at least half the size maybe even smaller) and have a more intense flavor. They also have twice the amount of antioxidants than regular blueberries, giving them a more vibrant color.

Personally, I much prefer wild blueberries to the cultivated variety, but since they're a more delicate berry, you really can only find them in the frozen section. Just look in the frozen fruit section and if you see a big blue bag with a sealable top…that's Wyman's and definitely what you should grab. They're amazing.

For this blueberry recipe, I decided to give you a super simple breakfast recipe that you could whip up with frozen wild blueberries that takes you only a few minutes to make.

We're taking a classic flavor combo, lemon, and blueberries, and combining that in a high-protein overnight quinoa. It requires just one bowl (or jar in my case) and is packed with antioxidants, protein, and fiber. It kind of reminds me of a blueberry muffin, but with a healthy twist. Unlike a muffin, you can tell after eating this that you're going to be fueled all morning long.

Inside you'll find wild blueberries of course, but also quinoa flakes, chia seeds, pure maple syrup, lemon zest, and almond milk. And if you don't have quinoa flakes, you can use oats instead. It really couldn't be simpler.

There's a mild sweetness from the maple syrup, a slight tang from the blueberries and a brightness from the lemon. The texture is thick and creamy like oatmeal, but since it's served cold, it's the perfect summer breakfast.

I actually layered mine with some fresh blueberries and topped it with some of my favorite granola, but it's delicious as is. And the best part is, since we're using frozen blueberries, it's one of those breakfasts that you're going to be able to enjoy all year long!

Your turn…

Have you ever tried wild blueberries? Could you tell the difference in flavor? I'd love to hear some of your favorite blueberry recipes in the comments section! And if you end up making this recipe and sharing a picture on social media, don't forget to either tag @simplyquinoa or use #simplyquinoa so I can find it and give it some love!

xo Alyssa

More Healthy Overnight Quinoa Recipes

Prep: 5

Total: 5

Ingredients

1/3 cup frozen wild blueberries
3/4 cup almond milk or milk of choice
1/3 cup quinoa flakes
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 - 2 teaspoons lemon zest depending on taste

Instructions

In a sealable glass container, stir together berries and milk. Let sit for 2 - 3 minutes and stir again until milk turns purple.
Add in remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Seal the container and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours up to overnight.
When ready to serve, top with fresh blueberries and sprinkle of cinnamon or coconut sugar if desired.

Nutrition

cuisine: American

course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Filed Under:

WW SmartPoints: 13

This post was brought to you in partnership with Wyman's of Maine who generously invited us to visit their blueberry facilities in Price Edward Island. Thank you for supporting the companies that I believe in and that help make this blog possible!

Lemon Blueberry Overnight Quinoa (+ my trip to Prince Edward Island)

Your turn…

More Healthy Overnight Quinoa Recipes