Quinoa is actually a seed from South America. The texture and taste is kind of like brown rice and oatmeal. And it is extremely versatile. You can add ANYTHING to it. Why is it so good for your health?
-It's a complete protein. It has all of the 9 essential amino acids that you need to make a "complete" meal, so it's great for vegetarians.
-It's great for your heart
-High in antioxidants
-High in fiber
-Anti-inflammatory benefits
-Gluten-free
Ok, so how do you cook this thing? Well it's seriously SOOOOO easy!
You always want a 1:2 ratio of quinoa and liquid. Here's a basic recipe:
Ingredients
-1 cup quinoa (you may need to rinse it depending on the brand you get)
-2 cups water or chicken stock/broth for extra flavor. If you're vegetarian or vegan, vegetable broth is perfect
-Salt to taste
Directions
-Add all your ingredients to a medium pot on high heat.
-Bring to a boil
-Once it has come to a boil, immediately bring it down to a simmer and cover. Let it go for 15-20 minutes.
-Once that's done, grab a fork and fluff the quinoa. Same as brown rice, you don't want to use a spoon with this.
You'll see that the finished product is only a little bit bigger, and it has a little tail.
Calories in one cup: 222
You can add so many different things to quinoa to make it dinner. You could even treat it as oats and turn it into oatmeal by cooking it in water and/or milk. Here are some ideas:
Mexican: black beans, mango, red bell pepper, green onions and cilantro. Dressing is lime juice, red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, garlic powder, salt & pepper.
Greek: Lettuce, spinach, cucumber, tomato, kalamata olives, red onion, feta cheese. Dressing is extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic powder, salt & pepper.
Soup: kale, white beans, carrots, tomatoes, onion, celery, parsley, thyme
Breakfast: Almond milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract, chia seeds, raisins, almond butter
Quinoa Pilaf with Pine Nuts
Quickie Quinoa Salad
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