What is Quinoa?
Quinoa (pronounced keen-wa)is not considered a true grain since the plant it is harvested from is not a grass, but don't let the family tree deceive you. Quinoa seed is a powerhouse "pseudograin" that is native to South America. Originally harvested and eaten by Incas this plant is a unique protein sources, in addition to be an excellent source of amino acids, B vitamins, iron, and manganese.
Even better, quinoa cooks faster than rice (15 minutes as opposed to 45) and can be used in multiple contexts: hot cereal, salad, soups, etc.
My Favorite Recipe
The recipe below is an excellent introduction to the taste and versatility of quinoa. I've modified it some from the original, but not by much. In fact one of the things I really like about this recipe is that it can be played with in terms of ingredients that are used.
Quinoa Salad
2 cup uncooked quinoa
2 tomatoes
1 cucumber
1 avocado
1/8 - 1/4 cup chopped cilantro (try fresh mint for a refreshing alternative!)
2 limes, juiced
Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine cooked quinoa, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, and cilantro into a mixing bowl. In a measuring cup combine lime juice, a 2-4 teaspoons of olive oil, salt and pepper. Stir the dressing into the salad and serve!
Uses
This salad works great as a stand alone meal, or as a side dish. If you have any leftovers, be sure to eat them within a couple of days. Fresh stuff does go bad quickly, and the avocado may still taste OK, but turns brown pretty fast. As a side dish, this salad would go well with lighter meats like chicken and fish. If you serve it as a main dish make sure there's plenty to go around because you'll want seconds and thirds as it is not a heavy dish. Still, it's a great main dish due to its high fiber, protein, and essential fats content. What I love about this recipe is that it is very quick to prepare (30 minutes tops), adaptable to other ingredients, fun to experiment with, and incredibly healthy and taste. No guilt eating this!
Sources
Quinoa Corporation, "Quinoa FAQs,"http://www.quinoa.net/11301.html.
World's Healthiest Foods, "Quinoa," http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbid=142&tname=foodspice.
Happy Cooking Company, "Quinoa Salad," http://www.happycookingco.com/Recipe-Quinoa-Salad.cfm.
Tim Milosch - Tim Milosch writes from Southern California and welcomes comments on his articles. If you'd like to read more his writing, please view his ...
