Quinoa - Tried it today!

kaykaylyn
kaykaylyn Posts: 84 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Cooked it for breakfast this a.m. First off it didnd't pass my "smell test". I smelled it as it was cooking and didn't like how it smelled, but was determined to taste it. Put a little butter in it and took my first spoonful,,, not good. It has a bad after taste. I kept eating it though, trouper that I am, and ate about 1/2 cup and just could not finish.it. I had been looking forward to trying it for a while as it is a pretty healthy cereal with a nice amount of protein, but just didn't like it. I know there are other ways to cook it and I may try out some recipes, but right now my thinking is that I'll wind up using them in my green smoothies, so it won't go to waste.

Replies

  • lawmaria
    lawmaria Posts: 184 Member
    i tried it a few weeks ago and i followed a recipe on the bag. did not like it at all.
  • deb968
    deb968 Posts: 144 Member
    I eat it for lunch or dinner. The question is did you get the kind that was already cleaned? Did the label say to soak/wash off?

    I make mine using salt free chicken broth and then add fire roasted peppers and artichokes. It is the best. I LOVE it!!!
  • singlefemalelawyer
    singlefemalelawyer Posts: 382 Member
    I usually add a package of chicken broth to the pot when cooking it, gives it a bit more taste if I want to eat it as a side, or use it with a saucy stir fry instead of rice or noodles and it kinda blends in with the rest. There are also a lot of good quinoa salad recipes on the internet that you should try. Hope this helps!
  • IowaJen1979
    IowaJen1979 Posts: 406 Member
    Americans eating too much quinoa is putting stress on South American residents. :-(

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/quinoa-boom-bolivian_n_2724251.html
  • Katey911
    Katey911 Posts: 80 Member
    I don't eat it as a cereal, I eat it as a rice substitute. I've only made about three different recipes with it but they've all been fab.
  • TravelDog14
    TravelDog14 Posts: 317 Member
    Had it for breakfast this morning too, but I love the stuff.

    I make a big pot cooked in water and then keep it in the fridge. This morning was a serving of quinoa mixed with 6 oz of plain nonfat greek yogurt and a couple ounces of fresh blueberries mixed in. Delicious!

    If I'm going to eat it hot for breakfast I cook it with either half almond milk and water or nonfat milk and water.
  • TravelDog14
    TravelDog14 Posts: 317 Member
    Oh, and give it another try for breakfast. Here's a good recipe for a breakfast quinoa bowl:

    http://www.theveganchickpea.com/2013/05/breakfast-quinoa-bowl.html

    Or this one, a scrambled egg, spinach and quinoa scramble:

    http://www.fitsugar.com/Quinoa-Egg-Scramble-Recipe-29628127/
  • ApocalypticFae
    ApocalypticFae Posts: 217 Member
    Did you rinse it really well before cooking it? I rinse mine for about 5 minutes, otherwise it has a sort of "soapy" aftertaste. I like mixing it with veggies and a little oil/vinegar/spices to make an awesome pasta salad.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I don't like hot cereals so haven't tried it that way. It's okay as a rice substitute, but I prefer brown rice. But I really love it in a salad. Just mix with other veggies with a vinaigrette dressing as you would for a couscous, pasta or other grain salad. I also add a can of rinsed drained beans to my quinoa salad to up the protein content a little more. And because I love beans.

    White quinoa makes a nice substitute for bulgur in tabouleh for those that have problems with wheat.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Did you rinse it really well before cooking it? I rinse mine for about 5 minutes, otherwise it has a sort of "soapy" aftertaste. I like mixing it with veggies and a little oil/vinegar/spices to make an awesome pasta salad.

    This ^^ is a good point. If you are not buying the pre-rinsed quinoa you need to rinse it before cooking.
  • curly1986
    curly1986 Posts: 98 Member
    I find, like the same as rice, it needs a little help in the flavour department. I love the texture of it, and with some herbs and spices and sautéed vegetables its delicious. I personally love courgette (I think thats zuchinni to americans?) and some baby plum tomatoes, and a tiny bit of olive oil and loads of black pepper.
  • Morn66
    Morn66 Posts: 96
    Even when it says it's pre-rinsed...I rinse it again. Because the saponin does indeed taste nasty. I'm guessing that's your problem. Rinse it and try it again.

    I love the stuff. I buy it in bulk, and I'll buy like 5lbs at once, so I always have plenty on hand.
  • kaykaylyn
    kaykaylyn Posts: 84 Member
    Well I'm embarrassed to say I did not rinse it at all. The bag had NO instructions and I just didn't know. I'll rinse to see if it makes a difference and try some of the other suggested ways to cook it. Thanks loads!
  • Morn66
    Morn66 Posts: 96
    Well I'm embarrassed to say I did not rinse it at all. The bag had NO instructions and I just didn't know. I'll rinse to see if it makes a difference and try some of the other suggested ways to cook it. Thanks loads!

    Here's my tip: The seeds are tiny, and I find that even using my finest mesh strainer that I use to rinse canned beans and such, the quinoa seeds still fell through. (It is a seed, not really a "cereal" at all.) So! I bought an aquarium net, the kind that people who keep aquariums use to scoop dead fish out of their tanks. Found a pretty big one with a really fine mesh in the pet aisle at Walmart, really cheap. Works great for rinsing a cup or so of quinoa at a time without the seeds falling through.
  • kiss20
    kiss20 Posts: 4
    I used to use it instead of rice i found it light and easy on my stomach and i didnt think it had a flavour as such i just shove my main on top of it and eat.
  • frugalafterfifty
    frugalafterfifty Posts: 240 Member
    I'm really glad you posted this thread. I tried it years ago and didn't like it for the same reason. Now that I rinse it, I love it. Makes a huge difference Good for others to know who may wish to try it.
  • suv_hater
    suv_hater Posts: 374 Member
    Things that make quinoa tasty:

    Coconut oil
    Dill
    Lemon juice
    Sweet peas
    Tahini
    Olives
    Avocado

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