The popularity of quinoa continues to increase and the product can now be found in national supermarket aisles.
Quinoa has been praised for its high protein content, nutty flavor, and light and fluffy texture. Though it is also easy to love quinoa’s taste, you may have trouble preparing this food. In this article, I want to take a closer look at quinoa’s benefits and explain some delicious recipes for you to try.
What Is Quinoa?
Grown and cultivated in the Andes for centuries, quinoa is a complete protein boasting all nine essential amino acids. Technically, quinoa isn’t a grain but rather a seed often served as though it were an actual whole-grain food.
The demand for quinoa has increased steadily in the past few years as people have found its light nutty taste and superfood properties quite beneficial. As a complete protein source that is high in magnesium, iron, and fiber, quinoa is surprisingly easy to cook.
How to Buy Quinoa?
There are three main types of quinoa found in U.S. supermarkets: white quinoa, red quinoa, and black quinoa.
Though white quinoa has a very subtle, bland taste, it is the safest way to experiment with this superfood.
Red and black quinoa have hearty flavors that can be overwhelming if you aren’t used to them.
Quinoa, which is a delicious and versatile grain, can be enjoyed in any number of dishes from salads to more colorful entrees.
Roots of Health’s organic quinoa is a powerful source of nutrition and flavor in all meals. It can be enjoyed raw or cooked, as it bears excellent culinary potential in salads and stews.
Always Rinse Your Quinoa
When cooking quinoa, people sometimes notice a strong bitter flavor that can last long after eating it. This is caused by an outer layer called saponin; if you rinse the grains before cooking they will be free of this coating.
Pre-packaged quinoa is usually pre-rinsed, but it doesn’t hurt to give the seeds one last rinse before you start cooking. If you don’t already have a strainer like this at your home, we find this double mesh colander useful for cooking with quinoa.
Experiment With Quinoa
Quinoa is a healthy replacement for white rice. When you add it to broth, it makes an excellent side dish that can be served with almost any meal. It also works very well in breakfast dishes, casseroles, and salads. There are many different recipes that use quinoa, but it would not be possible to give you just one. Take a look at the list of some great quinoa recipes here for innovative ideas.
Easy Quinoa Recipes
12 Recipes with Quinoa
- Grilled Halloumi and Quinoa Salad
- Quinoa Salad with a Sweet and Crunchy Touch
- Heirloom Tomato Quinoa with Lemon Dressing and Black Bean
- Quinoa with Chickpeas, Asparagus, and Fresh Peas
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes, 3-Egg Omelet with Quinoa, and Goat Cheese
- Quinoa Tabbouleh
- Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Dumpling Squash
- Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad
- Tuna & Cucumber Quinoa Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
- Golden Quinoa Salad with Avocado, Dill & Lemon
- Black Bean, Sweet Potato, and Quinoa Chili
- Quinoa Salad with Radishes and Greens
Additional Quinoa Cooking Facts
- How much water do I need to cook quinoa? For one cup of quinoa, boil 1 3/4 cups of water.
- How long does it take to prepare quinoa? It will take about 20 minutes to cook one cup of quinoa.
- How much dry quinoa do I need to make a single serving of cooked quinoa? One cup of uncooked quinoa is equivalent to three cups of cooked quinoa.
- How can I add more flavor? When cooking, it’s common to add salt rather than broth. Quinoa can be cooked adding a half teaspoon of salt for each cup. You can add other seasonings or herbs while cooking, like cloves of smashed garlic, fresh rosemary, or a pinch of black pepper.
- To cook quinoa, do you need a rice cooker? Absolutely! Just measure out the liquid-equivalent to your quinoa and use the labeling on your cooker.
- Can I store quinoa? Leftover quinoa can be refrigerated for up to seven days in a sealed container or frozen for up to 30 days.
Takeaway
Quinoa is a healthy, light, and fluffy texture grain that can fill you up just as much as other grains. Recipes for this excellent ingredient are easily doubled if you’re expecting company or want to have leftovers for the rest of the week.