Are you a purist when it comes to chocolate?
One of my friends recently said this and made me think about it. But I’ve decided Im not. When it comes to chocolate, if you’ve got something different and original, I want to try it! The more creative the better!
I’ve been on a red quinoa and farro kick and the smell of toasted quinoa got me thinking. . if you’ve never toasted or popped quinoa on the stove in a pan, you need to try this, it smells amazing. So, naturally, I had to put some in chocolate bark.
I also added some fabulous pure vanilla extract. I love how the vanilla balances the nutty and salty in this chocolate bark.
This chocolate bark is like none you have ever had. It’s so good. And I absolutely love seeing the toasted red quinoa in here. I think it’s so pretty!
Making this chocolate bark kinda made me feel like a real life chocolatier or something. I mean, come on, just look at it. Packed with roasted peanuts, pistachios and red quinoa for more nuttiness, this chocolate bark rocks.
So, need more ideas for Valentine’s Day? I hope you give this chocolate bark a try! This would make a great gift for foodie friends! I hope you enjoy!
And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to enter the Vanilla Week giveaway, the widget is below!!
Toasted Quinoa Chocolate Bark
Ingredients
- ¼ cup red quinoa
- 10 ounces good quality bittersweet chocolate chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup shelled pistachios
- 1/3 cup roasted peanuts
- coarse salt or maldon sea salt
Instructions
For the quinoa:
- Place the quinoa into a bowl and fill it with water. Let is soak for a little while. Then, using a wire whisk swish the quinoa around until you see a soapy residue come out of the quinoa. You might have to do this for a few minutes to get all the saponin off.
- Once the soapy residue is off strain the quinoa using a fine mesh sieve then rinse the quinoa with fresh water and set aside.
- Using a stainless steel saute pan over medium low heat, place the wet quinoa into the saute pan and saute the quinoa around the pan using a wooden spoon. Once it gets hot, the water is absorbed and the quinoa starts popping you know it's finally drying out. Keep moving it around the pan until the grains of quinoa start to brown. You will see it transform before your eyes and it will smell nutty but make sure you don't burn it. When finished, remove from the pan and place in a bowl to cool.
For the chocolate bark:
- Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper and scatter the pistachios on the baking sheet. Using a double boiler on the stove or a glass bowl in the microwave, heat the chopped chocolate until just melted. Stir until smooth. Add in the vanilla and stir to combine. Very carefully, pour the melted chocolate over the pistachios until covered and top with the roasted peanuts and sprinkle on the all toasted red quinoa and some sea salt. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to an hour, or until firm enough to cut or break apart.
On how to properly clean and toast quinoa, I read this.
Vanilla Week!!
Welcome to #VanillaWeek hosted by Terri from Love and Confections. We’re so excited about this week-long event. Red velvet and chocolate are everywhere this time of year, and the #VanillaWeek Bloggers have come together to focus on one of our favorite flavors – Vanilla. We hope you join us throughout the week where we will be sharing vanilla recipes from breakfasts, drinks, desserts and even savory dishes! Also, don’t forget to enter below for our big #VanillaWeek giveaway!
Cranberry & Pistachio Pudding Cookies from Take A Bite Out of Boca.
Strawberry Vanilla Smoothies from Life Tastes Good.
Sparkling Tahitian Vanilla Cupcakes from Pineapple and Coconut.
Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta from That Skinny Chick Can Bake.
Vanilla Bean Tiramisu from Love and Confections.
Vanilla Butter Shrimp Roll from Taste Cook Sip.
The Giveaway!!
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. The giveaway is sponsored by Nielsen-Massey, Bob’s Red Mill, Silpat, Quirk Books and Dixie Crystals/Imperial Sugar. Nielsen-Massey products can be purchased at Williams-Sonoma. All Nielsen-Massey products are gluten-free, allergen-free, GMO-free and Kosher.
The toasted quinoa must give this bark the perfect crunch! Great idea 🙂
Thanks so much, Marla!!!
I love the red quinoa in this bark! What a fun addition. I bet it gives the chocolate bark a slight crunch…kinda like a Crunch Bar but way more awesome! I love making chocolate bark, so I need to keep this in mind for the next time I get a craving. 🙂 Pinning!
you are totally right, David!!! it’s like nutty rice crispy things. . like a crunch bar!!!
Seriously, HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH THIS AWESOMENESS. I have never seen quinoa used in such an inventive way!
Thanks Joanne!!! I loved this!!!
I agree with Joanne..so inventive, Alice! I love it! Cute, too!
thank you, Annie!!
Toasted quinoa??? Love this idea! Especially if it’s part of an amazing recipe for chocolate bark! I bet this ships well 😉
haha, thank you Liz!!! and I need to make more!! it’s all gone!
I think I’m like you as well when it comes to chocolate. I love trying creative twists on the classic and this is definitely this. I love your spin on the classic bark.
Thanks so much, J!!! i seriously had fun with this one!!!
This looks so darn good Alice! I can’t wait to try it:)
Love the “pop” that you get from toasted quinoa. This bark looks delicious, Alice!
This is so creative and totally genius, Alice! I love the toasted quinoa in this bark! It reminds me a crunch candy bar but way better!
What a great idea Alice! Before I had my kids I was a chocolate purist – nothing but chocolate (not even nuts). But since I’ve had my kids I love my chocolate packed with dried fruit, nuts, you name it. Maybe it’s a hormone thing, lol! I’m definitely going to give this a try!
This bark sounds fantastic, Alice! I usually buy something similar from Costco, I forget the name, but this looks way better! Love your homemade version! Pinned!
Yes! This is my kind of bark, girl! Pinned!
Purist? That’s no fun! I mean, other than the really creative stuff you have going on here, there are pistachios and peanuts. With chocolate. Best combo. I’d never object to playing with chocolate!
Quinoa in chocolate? You have paired 2 of my favourite foods. These look and sound amazing!
Whoa, this is such an AWESOME idea! I love chocolate and quinoa but never thought to combine them–totally brilliant. Plus this way I can pretend chocolate is a little healthier than it may be (especially if I eat the whole pan of this 🙂
That red quinoa really POPS on the chocolate bark!! I want to reach through the screen and grab a bite!!
I love quinoa, especially red one! But I never ever toast them, and I have to try it asap! This chocolate bark has my name all over it. Chocolate + Red Quinoa + Salty and Sweet mix. I can’t even…. Yum!
Love this bark alice – quinoa is a fun twist. My absolute favorite chocolate is Theo – from Seattle – have you tried it? If not, let me know and I’ll mail you a bar. 🙂
Alice, I just heard about red quinoa last month and would love to try some. That sounds very interesting. Well, I can’t live without chocolate so this is a must-try!
This is the best bark ever! I LOVE that A) you thought of adding quinoa B) that you went a step further and toasted the quinoa C) you added pistachios, roasted peanuts and sea salt. Seriously brilliant and it looks gorgeous!
I like my chocolate to be exciting too! Gotta try making this bark, it sounds so so yummy
Genius idea Alice! Love, love, love quinoa and this bark is definitely on my to do list! Pinning and sharing and will try it soon!
This is so creative! I love the red color of the quinoa… so festive and unusual 🙂
Great idea to use toasted quinoa on chocolate bark!
Alice, this is genius!!!
That toasted quinoa looks amazing! I can just imagine the combo of flavours and textures you’ve got going on. Definitely no chocolate purists in this house!
Quinoa is healthy…so that makes this healthy…which means I can have a bunch without feeling guilty…right? lol I would have never thought to put quinoa with chocolate and nuts. Yum!
Seriously inventive – love all the fun mix-ins for the bark. I have never actually had toasted quinoa and now I am intrigued. Thanks for such a fun recipe!
What? You mean I can sneak my quinoa in chocolate too? Another amazing recipe to feed my ancient grain addiction. Winning!
Awh, thanks Lynn!!!
What a great idea Alice! Love your creative ides. Pinned.
Have a wonderful day!
Absolutely gorgeous, Alice! I love the green and red against the dark chocolate. So perfect for Valentine’s Day without being overly decorative. Love it!
Could this chocolate bark get any more genius?! Seriously, throwing quinoa into chocolate is such an awesome idea! This bark totally ROCKS!
I agree- that red quinoa is gorgeous in there! Love all the other flavors too. Am I a chocolate purist? Truthfully, I’ll take it any way I can get it!
Toasted quinoa is wonderful so I think this recipe is absolutely brilliant! It looks amazing!
This is a very creative recipe Alice! and I’m not a purist when it comes to chocolate! as much as I love it in it’s original form, I am also quite excited to try all the new twists! this looks really good!
Love the addition of the toasted quinoa to this chocolate bark, but especially love that you used the red and not just the usual white. The color combo really pops and looks like little pink peppercorns. So pretty.
Huh, never thought about being a chocolate purest…but nope! I don’t think I’m one either. I just like chocolate covered/filled stuff! And this bark is totally up my alley!!
I love toasted quinoa and the combination of that plus chocolate and a bit of vanilla to balance it all out is perfect. Plus, it makes a great single girls Valentines Day treat as well. Holla!
What an awesome idea! Never would have thought to add quinoa to chocolate bark. Genius!
I love quinoa and farro, too! I’ve never popped or toasted quinoa yet, and I really need to. Very original adding quinoa to chocolate, and I’d totally go for it — that toasted flavor must be delicious!
I was just talking about popped quinoa tonight! I’ve never tried it, but I’m SO excited to and your recipe is inspiring me! My favorite vanilla dessert would have to be vanilla mixed in with greek yogurt and bruléed – topped with some chocolate chips and berries.
I love the idea of the quinoa, I’ve been trying to find more recipes for it lately!
I love this! I’ll take chocolate any which way, but I can say I don’t think I’ve ever paired it with quinoa. I’ve got to try this!
What a fun and creative bark idea! I love it, it sounds delicious! And yes, the red quinoa looks awesome on top!
What a great idea to add quinoa to chocolate bark! The crunchier the better and quinoa has some serious crunch!
This is genius! Never would have thought of putting quinoa in bark! …and it makes it healthier, right?! So I can have twice as many 🙂