Exciting things to do with Quinoa?

chrissywelsh10
chrissywelsh10 Posts: 66 Member
I have used it as a rice substitute, (for the high protein count among other reasons) but i am stuck for something more exciting to do with it?

Does anyone have a good recipe? or can point me to a good place to get ideas?

Most of the recipe books have say *add stock cube and onion... which is fine... but surely there must be something more... right?
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Replies

  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member
    I've only used quinoa a few times, to either substitute rice in sushi or put into mini quiches :)
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    Take it back to the shop and get a refund is the most exciting thing I can think of....
  • chrissywelsh10
    chrissywelsh10 Posts: 66 Member
    eldamiano wrote: »
    Take it back to the shop and get a refund is the most exciting thing I can think of....

    Think I am going to take it for a mini roadtrip down the spice aisle and introduce it to a funky indian friend, they can pair up and I can have something tasty... failing all that... I'll go french and add more garlic.
  • cinmorrowlvn
    cinmorrowlvn Posts: 16 Member
    Check out Skinnytaste.com She has some really great recipes in general and some great ideas of quinoa (salads, main dishes, and deserts)
  • rgrady33
    rgrady33 Posts: 48 Member
    My wife just made this one and the whole family loved it!

    http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2013/04/slow-cooker-quinoa-chicken-chili.html
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    eldamiano wrote: »
    Take it back to the shop and get a refund is the most exciting thing I can think of....

    Think I am going to take it for a mini roadtrip down the spice aisle and introduce it to a funky indian friend, they can pair up and I can have something tasty... failing all that... I'll go french and add more garlic.

    Out of context but thank you for not taking my post too seriously.
  • WIMom316
    WIMom316 Posts: 3 Member
    Southwestern Turkey Stuffed Peppers
    It has quinoa in it and if you don't like stuffed peppers, the stuffing is great as a lettuce wrap.

    http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/southwestern-turkey-and-quinoa-stuffed-peppers/
  • check out pinterest. I did a search last night and found all kinds of recipes using quinoa. some of them sound really good...like a taco bowl that someone has posted. I'm going to try some of them.
  • AngryViking1970
    AngryViking1970 Posts: 2,847 Member
    This Spinach Artichoke Quinoa Bake recipe from Making Thyme for Health is crazy delicious:

    makingthymeforhealth.com/2014/02/16/spinach-artichoke-quinoa-casserole/
  • lmr0528
    lmr0528 Posts: 427 Member
    I like to mix it with some diced cucumbers & tomatos and put some balsamic over everything. Also, mix with chicken breast or ground turkey, fresh spinach & broccoli with some garlic and a little olive oil.
  • miadelb
    miadelb Posts: 7 Member
    I like to eat it for breakfast with cinnamon, maple syrup and some fruits
  • LeonCX
    LeonCX Posts: 862 Member
    edited October 2014
    I feed it to my pet canary Sam. Pretty exciting for him.
  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    Make a pot of it, take it on the train, then flick blobs of it at morning commuters.
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    juggle in one hand, eat the Quinoa in the other, or add bacon drippings to it for sharts and googles.
  • sistrsprkl
    sistrsprkl Posts: 1,010 Member
    edited October 2014
    I'm not a huge fan of quinoa but there's a granola recipe with it that I've been wanting to try.
    http://www.pastryaffair.com/blog/honey-almond-quinoa-granola.html
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZOvA2yAiWw&list=UUNbngWUqL2eqRw12yAwcICg

    Omit the rice for quinoa. Chili stuffed peppers!
  • Gidzmo
    Gidzmo Posts: 905 Member
    I recently saw some quinoa bread at the local supermarket. Tastes good, but one family member says that it's kind of chewy when toasted.
  • laurenjill
    laurenjill Posts: 94 Member
    Love this recipe!
    http://www.skinnytaste.com/2013/04/mediterranean-quinoa-salad.html
    Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
    Skinnytaste.com
    Servings: 6 • Size: 1 generous cup • Old Points: 3 • Weight Watcher Points+: 5 pt
    Calories: 145.5 • Fat: 8 g • Carb: 15.5 g • Fiber: 2.5 g • Protein: 4.3 g • Sugar: 0 g
    Sodium: 137 mg (without the salt) • Cholest: 7.4 mg

    Ingredients:

    1 cup uncooked quinoa
    2 cups water
    1/4 cup red onion, diced
    1/2 - 3/4 lemon, squeezed
    1/4 cup (about 10) kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
    2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
    2 cups cucumber, peeled and diced (from 1 English)
    1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
    1/3 cup crumbled feta
    salt and fresh pepper, to taste

    Directions:
    Rinse quinoa for about 2 minutes, using your hands to make sure all the saponins are removed.
    Fill a medium pot with water, add quinoa and salt to taste and bring to a boil. When the water boils, reduce heat to low and cover; simmer covered 15 minutes. Remove from heat and keep covered an additional 5 minutes without lifting the lid; then fluff with a fork and set aside in a large mixing bowl to cool.
    While the quinoa cools, dice all the vegetables. Add the red onion, olives, cucumber, tomatoes to the cooled quinoa, and squeeze 1/2 lemon over it.
    Drizzle the olive oil over the quinoa, then add feta, salt and pepper to taste and toss well. Taste for salt and adjust as needed, add more lemon juice if needed.
  • PAWeissenstein
    PAWeissenstein Posts: 37 Member
    Add diced fruit and some raw honey. Let it sit overnight and have it as a dessert. Also add some lentils to it and have as a snack or lunch for a super protein packed meal.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    I have used it as a rice substitute, (for the high protein count among other reasons) but i am stuck for something more exciting to do with it?

    Does anyone have a good recipe? or can point me to a good place to get ideas?

    Most of the recipe books have say *add stock cube and onion... which is fine... but surely there must be something more... right?

    I make a salad with quinoa.

    Boil the quinoa in salted water, rinse, and chill. Then add:
    Diced roasted beets
    Feta cheese crumbled
    dried sultanas
    chopped flat leaf parsley
    lemon zest
    black pepper
    salt

    then I'll mix it with girard's champagne salad dressing, or a nicely made vinagrette.
  • ythannah
    ythannah Posts: 4,371 Member
    Pumpkin Pie Quinoa Breakfast Casserole

    Ingredients
    • 1 cup water
    • 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
    • ¼ cup raw quinoa – red or white would work
    • 1 tbsp maple syrup
    • 1 tsp coconut oil
    • ¼ tsp gluten-free pure vanilla extract
    • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
    • pinch ground nutmeg
    • pinch ground ginger
    Topping:
    • 1 tbsp coconut oil, melted
    • 1 tbsp maple syrup
    • 1.5 tbsp finely ground almond flour
    • ¼ cup pecans, chopped
    Instructions
    1. Preheat oven to 350F and lightly oil a 4 cup casserole dish. [I used a small dab of coconut oil]
    2. In a small bowl combine all ingredients, minus the topping. Stir until fully mixed, then pour into prepared casserole dish.
    3. Cover with a tight lid and cook for 45-50 minutes.
    4. Meanwhile, combine all topping ingredients. After the 50 minutes are up, remove casserole from oven and sprinkle topping over top of the casserole.
    5. Return to the oven and cook uncovered for another 10-15 minutes, or until golden.
    Notes
    When you place the topping over the top, there should still be some liquid left in the dish. Baking it uncovered for the remaining of the cooking time will evaporate the liquid.

    Pumpkin Spice Quinoa Breakfast Cake

    Ingredients
    • ½ cup quinoa flakes
    • ⅓ cup canned pumpkin
    • ⅓ cup not from concentrate apple juice
    • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
    • 1 tablespoon coconut nectar (optional)
    • 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice
    Instructions
    1. Prepare a 16oz. microwave/oven safe dish by oiling with a dab of coconut oil. Set aside. Drop all ingredients in a small bowl and mix until fully incorporated. Press mixture into prepare dish and even out with fork.
    2. Microwave option: Place in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes. You’ll know when it’s done when it rises slightly, is harder to the touch, and pulls away from the sides of the dish. Don’t bake it too long, or you’ll have a Frisbee!
    3. Oven option: Place in a preheated oven at 350F and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
    4. Allow to rest for 1 minute before tipping over onto a plate and drizzling with coconut butter. Or, prepare in jar as I did with this version.

    Quinoa Pizza Bites
    Ingredients
    1 cup uncooked quinoa
    2 large organic, pasture-raised eggs
    1 cup chopped onion
    2 tsp minced garlic
    1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped (or 2 tablespoons dried)
    1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, diced
    1/2 tsp sea salt
    2 cups spinach
    1 tsp paprika
    1 tsp dried oregano
    Turkey pepperoni (organic)
    Pizza sauce for dipping
    Directions
    Place the quinoa and two cups of water in a covered pot. Bring to boil and then simmer for 20 minutes or until quinoa is tender.

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

    Mix together all ingredients, except pizza sauce, in a medium mixing bowl. Distribute mixture into a greased mini muffin tin, filling each cup to the top (one heaping tablespoon each), and press down gently to compact.
    Top with pepperoni. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.


    (sorry, I have no credit for the origin of those recipes, I just copy/paste them into a doc)
  • rockstrong
    rockstrong Posts: 32 Member
    This Spinach Artichoke Quinoa Bake recipe from Making Thyme for Health is crazy delicious:

    makingthymeforhealth.com/2014/02/16/spinach-artichoke-quinoa-casserole/

  • rockstrong
    rockstrong Posts: 32 Member
    Looks good, I'll try it.
  • rockstrong
    rockstrong Posts: 32 Member
    looking forward to trying these, thanks!
  • ksolksol
    ksolksol Posts: 194 Member
    quinoa tabbouleh -- just take your favorite tabbouleh recipe and use quinoa instead of bulgur wheat. Probably my favorite way to have it.

    If you haven't tried making tabbouleh before, basic recipe is:
    grain -- bulgur or quinoa
    olive oil + lemon juice dressing (I use about a 1:1 ratio)
    fresh garlic, pressed or minced
    fresh parsley (lots), chopped
    raw tomato, chopped
    green onion, both greens & whites, fresh, chopped

    Some people use mint as well. I prefer it with just parsley.

    Let it sit for a bit in the fridge before serving to let the flavors mesh.
  • maxcanuck
    maxcanuck Posts: 2
    edited October 2014
    I love quinoa in salads… I make a Greek salad with cubed chicken breast, red peppers, cucumber, red onion, tomatoes, light feta cheese with a dressing of olive oil, garlic, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, oregano, and pepper. I also like a southwestern one with chicken (optional), black beans, cucumber, tomatoes, red pepper, green onions, lots of cilantro, and a dressing of olive oil, lime juice, dijon mustard, a touch of honey, cumin, and pepper.

    The quinoa definitely has more flavour if you cook it in a chicken or vegetable broth instead of water… I try to use one with no salt added to cut down on the sodium.
  • One of my fav's is to toss with a dressing mixture of lemon and a small amount of honey then add sliced green onion, yellow or white corn (I use frozen or fresh - not canned) green onions and top with feta cheese!
  • ksolksol
    ksolksol Posts: 194 Member
    One of my fav's is to toss with a dressing mixture of lemon and a small amount of honey then add sliced green onion, yellow or white corn (I use frozen or fresh - not canned) green onions and top with feta cheese!

    That. Sounds. HEAVENLY! Will have to try it!