QUINOA

I am eating some for lunch! I made a bunch last night. I added spinach to the water and quinoa as it cooked. While it cooked, I sauteed some onion, garlic, shrimp, and mushrooms with various herbs and spices. They were all done around the same time and I mixed them in a big bowl. A delicious healthy dinner in about 20 minutes!

So, I love quinoa. It is a big chewier and nuttier in taste than brown rice. I strongly prefer it to rice now.

Never tried it but I remember someone else here posting a recipe with honey and cinnamon that they ate for breakfast- similar to oatmeal.

My absolute favorite way to eat quinoa is to cook it and mix it with cut up veggies (cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, olives, etc.) and top with a little feta cheese and Greek dressing.

I actually just bought some of Trader Joe's Organic Quinoa the other night! I made this recipe last night and it was super yummy!!

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/02/quinoa-fried-rice-525-pts.html

You can also grind it to flour in your Magic Bullet or Ninja and use it as a flour replacement in recipes. It's very versatile.

My favorite quinoa recipe:

Quinoa with Corn, Peppers, and Cilantro
1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
1 cup water
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Juice and grated zest of 1 lime
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
Place the quinoa in a fine strainer and rinse thoroughly with cold water. In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water and the quinoa to a boil. Reduce to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes, or until the grains are translucent and the germ has spiraled out from each grain. Transfer to a large bowl and chill. Add the bell pepper, corn, onion, and cilantro to the chilled quinoa. Toss to combine.
In a small bowl, whisk together the lime zest, juice, cumin, and olive oil. Pour over the quinoa mixture and toss well. Season with salt and pepper.

I have used leftover quinoa for breakfast and my toddler son actually loves it! I just add fruit to it or for my son, some maple syrup. It's tastier than it sounds!

I love quinoa! I've never eaten it as a sweet dish. I usually do something like a pilaf with it. Here is one of my favorite recipes:

http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/recipes/quinoa-salad-roasted-asparagus

I made a visit to my favorite place in the whole world.. Trader Joes. Lol came across their organic Quinoa.. I've seen some posts on here about Quinoa & how delicious / good it is for you..

Do any of you use Quinoa as a replacement for oatmeal or.. rice? Any recipes with this? I'm quite clueless about it lol

You can use it as a breakfast meal. . great with a little cinnamon and agave nectar in it. . . I use it in wraps and also as a side dish in place of rice. . or mixed in cassaroles . . . It is a staple in my house as I'm a pescatarian. . . I make mostly vegan and vegetarian dishes. .

Quinoa is an excellent source of aminos as it contains all 9. . . so they like to call it the super food. .. There are recipes for it all over the web

Some of my favorite sources are :

vegetariantimes.com
vegweb.com
vegkitchen.com
eatingwell.com
skinnytaste.com

Hope this is helpful. . Happy cooking. .

If you have not cooked it before though be advised. . get it boiling with the lid on. . and turn it down for a few mins before opening the lid. . as I had it poppin all over the first time. . .lol. . now I have the hang of it.

I use it all the time! I use it in the morning mixed in with oatmeal and fruit. I also use it instead of pasta for dinner. I have a recipe book that's filled of recipes for just Quinoa.

Now I can't seem find qunioa flour for the baking goods but if you can, there are dessert opportunities toooooo!

Just last night I had it with shrimp and tomato soup. The grain absorbed the all the soup. It was very tasty.

For lunch I've had it cold with cucumbers and tomatoes with a sprinkle of lemon.

It's so yummy! and filling. :happy:

Quinoa & Black Beans

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/quinoa-and-black-beans/detail.aspx

Mmmmm love this idea!

bump.. be back to read more later.

I hit TJ's yesterday myself and also bought some Quinoa for the first time... Got to talking to someone there and they mix it with brown rice (cook it up together) and toss in veggies, anything else that you have that appeals to you.

So...I picked some up and I'll give it a go this weekend, I was in the mood for a new grain to try.

My sister cooks it and drys it with other non gluten grains and makes her own granola wtih honey and fruit and nuts!

I love love love this salad and 1 cup is 3 points on weight watchers and 1 cup is a TON of salad!

Greek Quinoa Salad


3 cups of cooked quinoa
1 large cucumber,chopped
3 tomatoes,chopped
1/2 cup of feta
1/3 cup EVOO
salt and pepper
2 T. oregano
1/4 cup of red wine vinegar
1/4 cup of lemon juice
Mix quinoa and veggies with feta.
Drizzle dressing and mix together.
Serve warm or cold.

Loving all the ideas shared! Much appreciated!:smooched:

bump

I absolutely LOVE quinoa! It's my favorite side dish! Be sure to rinse it for a few moments otherwise it's bitter. Cook it as you would rice 2:1 liquid to quinoa. I cook it in broth (beef or chicken, whichever I'm serving with it) with a spoon of minced garlic. When it's done I add sliced green onions and serve. This is a very simple and delicious start. After you get used to it you can experiment with it more. I don't think I'll ever use rice again.