I think the flavor is pretty mild and seems to disappear if stronger flavors are with it. It's good with dressing and salad fixings, I add it to chili and cut back on the meat, it can be added to soups in place of rice or barley. The reasoning behind it all is the fact it's nearly a complete protein. Some say complete, other sources say it's lacking one, that beans happen to have. Supposedly beans and quinoa combine to make a complete protein.