Quinoa is one of the top Superfoods
Quinoa is not a new fad but has been around for over 3000 years. Recently countries outside South America have also started selling quinoa to an ever growing market. In the UK it is now available in some of the major supermarkets as well as the larger health food stores.
What is quinoa?
Put your money to work for you by learning where to invest it for the best returns
Although it is most definitely a seed quinoa is usually included with grains for cooking purposes. It is actually a seed from a plant that is related to Spinach and Chard. You can eat the leaves as well as the seeds. Of course the leaf version is only available where it is grown as it does not store or travel well. The original seed type is the most important type of quinoa because it holds all the nutritional benefits with it.
What is Quinoa Like?
The Quinoa seeds are little oval seeds 2 – 3 mm in size. The standard quinoa seed is a pale cream colour .You can occasionally get hold of red and black quinoa seeds aswell. You can buy it in small packs and it is usually ready to cook. Instead of using cous cous in a salad recipe you can use quinoa instead. This doesn’t mean it is bland and uninteresting - far from it. It has a taste and original texture of its own.
Put your money to work for you by learning where to invest it for the best returns
How do you cook Quinoa?
Put your money to work for you by learning where to invest it for the best returns
To cook quinoa the easiest way you take some water and quinoa in a saucepan and bring it to the boil on the hob. Most people use twice the volume of water to the quinoa quantity. You will find that the water goes into the quinoa and it should need draining. Some quinoa still has a coating of bitter tasting saponins. If you find this is the case you must pre-rinse it before you go and cook it. You are unlikely to buy coated quinoa as most shops sell it pre-rinsed but its best to be sure.
Put your money to work for you by learning where to invest it for the best returns
You can replace your favourite rice dishes with the finished quinoa. You can put it in many other types of recipes. As well as blending in well with the other ingredient quinoa adds its own crunchy texture to the mix.
A well known feature is the little halo you get which is actually the germ that becomes more visible with cooking. This has a very pleasant crunch to it when you eat it. This is why I think people say it tastes a bit nutty. I’m not sure I agree but quinoa does taste good.
Put your money to work for you by learning where to invest it for the best returns
You can microwave quinoa and put it in casseroles as a thickening agent. You can also find quinoa flour and quinoa flakes that you can bake with. The flour is not like wheat flour and you need to use your ingenuity to use it properly.
Put your money to work for you by learning where to invest it for the best returns
What is special about Quinoa?
Quinoa is almost unparalled in the world of seeds and grains. One of the big things is that quinoa is gluten free which is great when so many people have wheat allergies. Vegans and vegetarians eat it to give them the amino acids that quinoa contains. Finally it releases its carbohydrates into the body very slowly so helps people with diabetes, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other dietary related diseases.
Mail this post
