Quinoa Date Squares

Quinoa Date Squares

Comments: Although it resembles as far as nutritional values are concerned, quinoa, also called 'Incas' rice', is not a cereal but a vegetable of the leaf family.
Servings: 16 squares
Ingredients Preparation

2 1/4 cups [560 mL] chopped stoned dates
1 cup [250 mL] orange juice
1 1/3 cups [300 g] non hydrogenated margarine
1 cup [250 mL] brown sugar
3/4 cup [190 mL] almonds
2 cups [500 mL] quinoa flakes



Preheat oven to 375°F [190°C].
Line a square 9-inch [23-cm] baking pan with parchment paper leaving the paper exceed on two sides of the pan.
Greased unlined sides with a little margarine.
Mix together chopped dates and orange juice into a casserole.
Bring to a boil, lower heat and leave to simmer until dates absorb the juice and becom soft, for approximately 8 minutes.
Remove from heat and leave to cool.
Into a bowl, beat together margarine brown sugar using an electric beater.
Finely grind almonds before adding to the mixture, along with quinoa flakes.
Mix well.
Evenly spread half of quinoa flake mixture into prepared baking pan.
Firmly press mixture.
Evenly top with remaining mixture; lightly press mixture.
Bake in the middle of preheated oven until golden, for approximately 30 minutes.
Remove from oven and leave to cool completely, for approximately 4 hours or overnight, before unmolding.
Cut into 16 squares before serving.