Quinoa

[LindaAnn]

Just wondered if anyone has cooked quinoa--and if so, would you share a recipe? I've never tasted it, but someone recommended it to me in place of rice.

[debrick]

I was going to suggest that recipe Jack and Nina.

I have made it several times -- delicious!!

I make a breakfast quinoa that we love-- I made it up so you can add or subtract for your taste it goes something like this:

Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees.



Make Quinoa (well rinsed) according to package (you could use apple juice instead of the water).

Put in a baking dish sprayed with Pam

Add Honey or whatever sweetener you prefer(to taste) Vanilla, Cinnamon, Orange Juice (or any other fruit juice just to make a bit more moist-maybe 1/2 cup), Nuts and Dried (or fresh) fruit

Stir then just pop in the oven until hot.

I refrigerate the leftovers in small bowls for work---good cold or you can warm in the microwave.

[cpd520]

Here is a recipe we enjoy - Quinoa and Black Beans

[SWMO]

Passin Thru wrote:
it's a grain raised in the Andes and is getting very expensive.

I know the box is here, but bulk is pretty reasonable. We get it at a store that offers a lot of grains and beans in bulk. Just a thought.

[Passin_Thru]

We cook it in vegetable broth and add a cup of Pine Nuts. Take the pine nuts and toss them over a high burner til they brown a little. Also, Quinoa has no Gluten, it's a grain raised in the Andes and is getting very expensive.

[aussie1]

Try this one it is very yummy
Quinoa and Chickpea Salad

Ingredients
½ cup quinoa
1 cup chickpeas, tinned
4 shallots, chopped finely
½ cup celery, finely chopped
1 bok choy or cabbage, chopped finely
1 cucumber, seeds removed and chopped finely
½ cup finely chopped cream cheese (brie or similar)
1 - 2 cups roasted sweet potatoes, small cubes
1 cup mixed roasted nuts, chopped (cashews, almonds and macadamias)
1 ½ cups fresh herbs, chopped (coriander, mint and parsley)

Dressing
50 ml fresh lemon juice
50ml extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, grated

Instructions
Cover quinoa with water in saucepan plus extra 10mm water, cook, stirring, until all water has reduced approximately 10 minutes
Allow to cool in fridge
Drain and rinse chickpeas
Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl, including chickpeas and cooled quinoa
Combine dressing ingredients in a screw topped bottle and shake well
Add only enough dressing to salad to coat ingredients

Changing some of the ingredients will result in a whole new dish. Eg adding a bit of chilli or changing the herbs used.
Enjoy

[Super_Dave]

LindaAnn wrote:
Thanks again--I'm going to try it this weekend.

I'll pray for you Linda. LOL!

[LindaAnn]

Thanks again--I'm going to try it this weekend.

[Leo_Benson]

The one thing to remember is to RINSE for two minutes. Quinoa has a natural bitter coating that must be rinsed off. Place in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under running cold water, shaking, for two minutes.
Then place in a dry frying pan on med hi heat , stirring, as it dries and starts to uncurl or pop open. Add your cooking liquids and cook until done. Either cool for a cold salad, or add your other ingredients.

[BigBoy11]

We LOVE quinoa! Use it as a substitute not only for rice but for bulgar wheat in tabouli, and instead of cous cous as a bed for tuna or salmon steaks. Use chicken or beef stock instead of water for cooking, add some olive oil, chopped green onions, lemon juice and seasoned salt and it will go well with fish, pork, chicken, etc. Be sure to rinse the quinoa before cooking and it improves the flavor and i will often toast it in the pan for a couple of minutes before adding any liquid or other ingredients. If you are a steak and potatoes person, forget it but if you like lighter, subtler flavors quinoa is much healthier than rice or cous cous.

[lasparrot]

dooh - double post - operator error

[lasparrot]

I love it and cook it many ways - a favorite is with the zest and juice of 1 lemon.

However, and much to my sadness, I have developed a sensitivity and it gives me wicked stomach cramps - enough to keep my up all night. We did some research online, and it suggested that even though I bought the pre-rinsed kind, it is better to rinse, rinse and rinse some more. Some even suggested soaking it for the day in water and a bit of acid. Once I work up the nerve again I'll try it with soaking for the day. And if that doesn't work I'll give it up completely.

I hope your experience is better as it is a great healthy protein source.

[Swamp_Rat]

The only way I've had it is as a cold salad...good stuff...chopped cukes, red onion, cilantro in a lime garlic dressing homemade of course. Needs to sit in dressing in fridge for an hour...

[Altern]

Super_Dave wrote:
I don't care for the flavor in the same way I'm not a brown rice fan. Quinoa shows up on thos healthy food diets so it's a sign of what to expect taste wise. LOL!

We just throw away the quinoa and eat its cardboard box. Tastes a little better.:B

[SWMO]

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.