7 Things to Know About Quinoa

You probably have seen quinoa just about everywhere.  Its the rage right now and people are using it in everything from burgers to cookies.  Its incredibly good for you, very versatile and really easy to use. Try it out, I think you will love it!

1. What's in a name. Pronounced KEEN-wah, it's a slightly chewy, mildly flavored seed derived from a plant in the chard and spinach family. For all practical purposes, however, it’s treated like a grain.


2. Red or white? Both red and white varieties of quinoa can be used interchangeably in recipes. The red grain tends to have an earthier flavor and is harder to find.


3. Packed with protein. Like other whole grains, quinoa is high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. It’s also packed with protein, making it a popular vegan and vegetarian alternative to meat.


4. 15-min prep. Another part of quinoa’s growing popularity is its quick and easy cooking time—about 15 minutes from start to finish. The simplest preparation is one part quinoa to two parts water. Bring to a boil, simmer until light and fluffy and then season as desired.


5. Super substitute. Try quinoa as a substitute for rice, barley, bulgur or couscous in salads and side dishes. You may need to adjust the quantity of dressing or sauce because quinoa’s delicate and fluffy texture becomes soggy in too much liquid.


6. Weekly stock-up. Quinoa is delicious hot or cold. Make up a big batch of quinoa and store in the fridge for meals throughout the week.


7. Breakfast, lunch or dinner! For breakfast, try quinoa as a hot cereal with fruit and nuts (recipe below). For a hearty, healthy lunch, just add chopped veggies and your favorite vinaigrette. For dinner, toss quinoa with roasted root vegetables and pair with meat or fish.

Source: Live Better Americ

Quinoa-Almond Salad

Adding toasted nuts to grains such as quinoa really brings out the flavor. Quinoa is higher in unsaturated (good) fats and protein and lower in carbohydrates than most grains so there are many reasons to include it in a healthy diet.



Quinoa-Almond Salad

Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Servings: 6

1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup coarsely shredded carrot
1/4 sliced almonds, toasted
1/4 cup dried cherries or cranberries

Balsamic Vinaigrette:
2 T chopped parsley
1 1/2 T canola or soybean oil
2 T balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
dash of pepper

Heat quinoa, water and salt to boiling in 2 quart sauce pan, stirring once or twice, reduce heat to low.  Cover and simmer 12 to 15 minutes until tender.

Remove saucepan from heat, let stand 5 minutes.  Fluff quinoa with fork, let cool 15 minutes.  Meanwhile, make balsamic vinaigrette.

Mix vinaigrette, quinoa and other ingredients in large bowl.  Serve warm or cover and refrigerate about 4 hours until chilled. 

1 Serving:  190 calories; 7g fat

Source:  eatbetteramerica