25 replies to this topic

[Kashmir]

I've been hearing so much about quinoa. Everyone seems to be making it these days. What is it? How do you prepare it? Inquiring minds wanna know

[Erinisme]

it's an ancient grain that is also a complete protein.

It's similar to cous cous in texture IMO...It's pretty neutral in flavor

I use a rice cooker to make mine and it's awesome..want some easy recipes?

[Kashmir]

Thanks Erin. I would LOVE some recipes

[TakeAStepBack]

We just sautee garlic in oil and then add that to the red Q. with salt and pepper. Good stuff.

[Ginger Snap]

Just sprouted some and tossed it in tabouli instead of bulgur- really yummy.

[Lazy Lightning]

It's yummy!

Good idea to rinse it before cooking, some of it can taste "soapy" due to natural saponins in the grain.

Red and white cook the same way, colour doesn't make a difference.

It is a complete protein, cooks up fast, and has great texture. Can be used in place of couscous.

Makes great cold salads! Also really amazing as a sweet breakfast cereal - I like to make some up and mix it with chopped dates, coconut, walnuts, maple syrup and cinnamon in the winter months. Soooooooo good!

[sums]

i soak it overnight, or throughout the day. 8 hours minimum. then make it like basmati - boil, cover, simmer for 20 mins.

soaking makes it more digestible.

i just put a little butter in the quinoa then top it with a mess 'o steamed veggies. i think it goes extremely well with steamed chard

drool.

[Kashmir]

Thanks for all the great ideas. It wasn't till recently that I could pronounce it right

[Ginger Snap]

You're probably going to cook it,but tonight I added the sprouted quinoa to a bangin' guac I made to dip veggies. It was really good, I also rolled it up in little baby bok choy leaves with a slice of tomato.

[Ginger Snap]

There's a really great quinoa bean salad recipe onthewhole foods website, check it out. I add a few more veggies- grated carrots, chopped cukes, onion...it's really light and refreshing in the summer.musicmomma turned me on to it.

[jme]

this cafe up the road makes a bunch of dishes with it... my favorites are like chinese fried rice.. they just use the quinoa instead.

I've never tried cooking it myself... I should.

[elder]

Actually not a grain at all, but the seed of a plant that is most closely related to the spinach, beet and chard family.

Much better for you than any grain.

[Jam Fan]

Actually not a grain at all, but the seed of a plant that is most closely related to the spinach, beet and chard family.

Much better for you than any grain.

and it is kosher for Passover.

[Rionach aka Spec K]

it's yummy. I make a quinoa salad - mix cooked quinoa with cashews, scallion, tarragon, craisins and make a dressing using 1/4 C olive oil, 1/4 C balsamic vinegar and 1/4 C fresh squeezed OJ. any left overs I heat up with a little olive oil in skillit - gives it a nice crunchy nutty flavor and texture. ...or you can eat it cold...

[Jersey Thug]

this recipe is DELICIOUS. i subbed veg stock for chicken stock to make it veggie.

http://iowagirleats....i-fried-quinoa/

[ladygingechilla]

I second the above recipe!

[Karen]

this recipe is DELICIOUS. i subbed veg stock for chicken stock to make it veggie.

http://iowagirleats....i-fried-quinoa/

[fire_rocket]

I'm growing quinoa. Apparently it's almost ready to harvest, but it doesn't look anything like the stuff I'm used to. Interesting...

[Jersey Thug]

I second the above recipe!

actually, you first-ed it...thanks for the bangin' meal and for sharing the recipe afterward, Jessica!

here's another great one from Wholefoods Market. this is the one Erisisme has made a bunch of times. quinoa with lemon and zucchini. it's so yummy! http://www.wholefood...om/recipes/2525

and this week (inspired by that recipe and the stuff i had in my fridge) i made a cold quinoa salad with cucumber, dill, lots of lemon and lemon zest and crumbled feta. i think this one is my favorite yet!

[Again and Again]

We eat ours either cooked in vegetable broth, or sautéed with onions and garlic and mixed with black brand and corn kernels. Yummy!

[Jersey Thug]

and this week (inspired by that recipe and the stuff i had in my fridge) i made a cold quinoa salad with cucumber, dill, lots of lemon and lemon zest and crumbled feta. i think this one is my favorite yet!

updated to add: i like it even more without the feta, and highly recommend this to anyone wanting to try quinoa for the first time. so yummy!

[Ginger Snap]

I sprouted quinoa when I was doing a raw food detox- sprinkled it on salads and in veggie rollups- mixed into tabouli...definitely tastes like sprouts so treat it as such. I never felt so earthy crunchy as when I sprouted quinoa.

[china cat]

I don't care for the taste but I have made it and added chunks of fresh pineapple. pretty yummy (and simple)

here are some links http://www.fitnessma...quinoa-recipes/

http://allrecipes.co...-grains/quinoa/

http://www.cookingli...00412000073996/

[Tim the Beek]

We also had in the the form of black bean and quinoa cakes topped with guac last weekend. Hope I can find a recipe which matches what we had, because it was GOOD.

[Ginger Snap]

I'm going to experiment and make quinoa breakfast bars with dried fruits and nuts. I have a really hard time getting a good breakfast in the morning and end up eating my lunch by 10 am to avoid grabbing a stupid sugary carby muffin or donut. A bar and a piece of fruit should be better.

[Jersey Thug]

the hot breakfast cereal i discovered recently is maybe my favorite breakfast ever. it's a mix of whole rolled oats, quinoa and amaranth with raw almonds, pepitas, sunflower seeds and flax with dried cranberries or raisins...delicious and really really good for you. 1 gram or less of sugar, no preservatives or additives of any kind, and totally yummy. i add cinnamon to mine, but you can add whatever you like. extra dried or fresh fruit, honey, maple syrup, etc.

the package instructions say to cook it for 5 minutes, but i find that if i boil water in my tea kettle and add that to the bowl of cereal mix and stir for a minute or so, it's perfect.

ooh...just looked it up and they make bars, too. the brand is Earnest Eats and i find them at Home Goods.

http://earnesteats.c...s/hotcereal.php