Does anyone eat Quinoa?

I love quinoa. It's not much like rice. It does have a kind of buttery, nutty flavor and a texture similar to grits (if you know what those are LOL). It's a little crunchy... it's different. I like to mix a little olive oil and a dash of salt in it and eat it plain or you can also dice up some grilled chicken or put some vegies in it. Basically, treat it like rice I really really like it. Some big chain grocery stores don't carry quinoa, but it should be easy to find in an organic or health food store.

I buy it at the grocery store Giant Eagle and it is about 3$ for a 1 pound box, which lasts quite a while.

I LOVE Quinoa! It is more like cous cous than rice. But when you buy those cous cous packets you get all the sodium... that processed foods have.

Most brands of Qinoa need to be rinsed and some presoaked before using. I buy Ancient Harvest brand. It does not need rinsing or soaking. It's ready to use out of the box and is ready in 15-20 min.

I've used it in place of rice with stir fry. I also like to make the quinoa to have on hand for easy lunches. I cook 1C dry. That will give you about 4C cooked, 1C per serving. I saute vegetables and add them in. Having these in individual containers make a quick grab & go microwavable lunch.

Some vegie combos I like green beens, yellow beans, carrots sauted in sesame oil with a small amount of chili paste. Carrots, broccoli, ginger, green onion with a little teriyaki sauce, I used sesame oil for that one too. Red, yellow, orange peppers, onion in olive oil. I use a about 1/2 TBL of oil, you really don't need much.

Here is a link to Ancient Harvests website. They have recipes and product info there. You can even order from them.

http://www.quinoa.net/

Hiya,
I have tried Quinoa a few times. One thing that I will add is that you should cook it like rice with a little less water. But, you should add mixed vegetables and a bouillion cube. If you cook it in it's pure form, it is bland and boring. If you dress it up like I suggested, it is not bad.

Best Wishes,

Rita.

If you buy quinoa from a bulk bin at a natural foods store, it's ridiculously cheap. I like to make cold quinoa salads or put it in soup to add protein.
I've posted this recipe before, but it's very tasty. My boyfriend does not like the texture of quinoa, but he will eat it in soup.

Quinoa Stew
Vegan
Serves 4

Ingredients:
1/2 cup quinoa
1 cup water
2 cups onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves
2 tbsp olive oil
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 carrot, cut on the diagonal into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 bell pepper, chopped in 1-inch pieces
1 cup zucchini, cubed
2 cups of fresh tomatoes or canned tomatoes undrained
1 cup vegetable stock
2 tsp cumin, ground
1/2 tsp coriander, ground
pinch of cayenne
2 tsp fresh oregano (only 1 tsp if dried)
salt to taste
chopped fresh cilantro to garnish
1 limes, cut into quarters and served on the side

Cook
- Using a fine sieve, rinse the quinoa well. Place it in a pot with the water and cook, covered, on medium-low heat for about 15 min or until soft. Set aside.
- While the quinoa cooks, saute the onions and garlic in the oil for about 5 min on medium heat. Add the celery and carrots, and continue to cook for 5 min, stirring often.
- Add the bell pepper, zucchini, tomatoes, and vegetable stock. Stir in the cumin, chili powder, coriander, cayenne, and oregano. Simmer, covered, for 10-15 min, until vegetable are tender. Stir the cooked quinoa into the stew and add salt to taste. Top with cilantro, serve with limes on the side. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information:
Serving Size- 8oz. or 1/4th prepared recipe
Calories: 140
Protein: 2.8g
Fat: 4.7g
Carbs: 22.9g
Sodium: 52mg
Cholesterol: 0

Recipe can be found in the Moosewood Cookbook for Cooks at Home.

Enjoy!

If you make quinoa and it's crunchy, it's probably undercooked. It's not as soft as rice and has a little spring to it, but I wouldn't call it crunchy. I add it to every broth soup I make - adds a great texture, kind of like bulgar wheat. I also get mine in bulk in the natural foods section of supermarkets or at a co-op, and it's not too expensive. Much cheaper than bread!