Quinoa: Yes or No?

Quinoa is a grain and cous cous is a pasta so there is a big difference there. I don't mind it mixed in something but it's not great on it's own.

We really like quinoa. I make it spiced with raisins. I haven't found a recipe for couscous that is something I'd repeat.

I have gluten issues, so I use a lot of Quinoa. If you get on pinterest you can find a lot of different recipes that make it tasty.

I like it. I've heard it's a complete protein source (contains all of the amino acids that we can't produce ourselves) so that's a selling point if you don't eat meat. It's kind of bland by itself, but cook it in chicken or beef stock and it's pretty tasty. I'll do quinoa instead of rice sometimes. It has more protein, more fiber and fewer carbs than rice.

Quinoa has a fair amount of fiber and protein, especially when compared to couscous, rice, and pasta. It is really good if you make it with the right stuff. It's mega bland if you cook it in water, so I use chicken broth (Progresso makes one without added sodium), then add some artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, and minced garlic sautéed in a bit of olive oil. Delicious!

Quinoa is a seed (not a pasta or a grain!), and high in protein for a non-animal food.
I use it like rice or couscous. I quite like it.

I love, love, love quinoa! I add it to things like salads, casseroles, soups & stews. I always cook extra to have on hand & throw in for some protein. I've recently been cooking it plain so I can also add it to oatmeal in the morning.

For starters, quinoa is technically a seed, not a grain so many people have an easier time digesting it. Nutritionally, it has a lot more in it than cous cous - it's a complete protein (which is rare in plant foods). It's also very high in fiber, magnesium, B vitamins, folate, iron and zinc! All stuff we need more of. Cous cous looks like junk food in comparison.

You can definitely use it like cous cous. It's also great as a topping on salads (instead of croutons) or to make veggie burgers/patties out of when mixed with beans or sweet potato. It's great as a thickener/filler in chilis and soups. It's super versatile and freezes well so if you make a big batch and don't think you'll use it just divide it up into manageable portions and freeze.

Make sure you give it a good rinse before cooking - the seeds have a natural coating on them called "Saponin" and it tastes very bitter if you don't rinse it off. Rinse until the water no longer looks soapy.

Love quinoa. I make it all the time. I always cook it with vegetable broth instead of water because, like rice, it is bland on it's own. I prefer quinoa to rice and it is definitely a lot different in taste and texture to cous cous. Just last night I made quinoa spiced with cumin and cinnamon and added butternut squash and asparagus. You can basically add anything to it.

I personally love quinoa! It has a coating of saponin which, if not rinsed, will give it a somewhat bitter flavor - which may be a reason some people don't like it. So, just put it in a fine mesh sieve and run it under cool water for a couple of minutes, and then cook it!

I like to make "salads" - Mediterranean with lots of basal, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, a little lemon zest, and then a dressing of balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard olive oil, S&P - or Southwest with black beans (with cumin and lime), sauteed onions and peppers, avocado, and salsa. So good! I will make a big batch and then have it for lunch during the week. I also use it in place of pasta or rice.

It's really versatile!

For starters, quinoa is technically a seed, not a grain so many people have an easier time digesting it. Nutritionally, it has a lot more in it than cous cous - it's a complete protein (which is rare in plant foods). It's also very high in fiber, magnesium, B vitamins, folate, iron and zinc! All stuff we need more of. Cous cous looks like junk food in comparison.

You can definitely use it like cous cous. It's also great as a topping on salads (instead of croutons) or to make veggie burgers/patties out of when mixed with beans or sweet potato. It's great as a thickener/filler in chilis and soups. It's super versatile and freezes well so if you make a big batch and don't think you'll use it just divide it up into manageable portions and freeze.

Make sure you give it a good rinse before cooking - the seeds have a natural coating on them called "Saponin" and it tastes very bitter if you don't rinse it off. Rinse until the water no longer looks soapy.

As I've mentioned, quinoa is a grain. All grains are seeds. You eat the seed of the wheat, you eat the seed of the corn, you eat the seed of the rice, and you eat the seed of the quinoa. All grains.

We love it in our family. I make it in the rice cooker, season with salt and pepper and eat it. Even my 3 year old and 7 year old eat it....and ask for more.

It's also the only non-meat item that is a complete protein!!! It's awesome in my book!!

Just another whole grain to add to the vibrancy and variations on the number of foods we can consume as omnivores!

So what's the consensus on Quinoa?

I feel like it's a different version of cous cous- and I just can't be bothered to go buy something totally different.

Does MFP world feel it's significantly better or worse than rice? or cous cous?

I am *fairly* low carb so I don't eat much of any of those things- but I wanted to get a feel for it before I went out and bought some and experimented on my excessively picky boyfriend.

I love adding it to a chicken salad... love the texture!