Quinoa - Now That I Bought It.....
Now that I bought quinoa (the Mutha of all grains) I could use any suggestion or favorite recipes. I intend it as a side for grilled salmon. I would appreciate any help you could give....I also saved the receipt in case I bale and have to return it.
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16 Comments:
Toast it in a skillet until it turns golden brown and smells nutty. (Or until a few of the little grains 'pop' like popcorn)
Cook it at a 2 to 1 ratio (2 parts liquid to 1 part Quinoa)
I usually add in diced red, yellow, orange peppers and feta cheese for a fun salad/side dish.
I've also added in walnuts and goat cheese and a light raspberry vinaigrette :)
sweethunibabi at 5:00PM on 03/10/09
I am like you... I bought a bag of quinoa for a long while and still have not done it. It's just that laziness because I have to read a recipe to make it on my own for the first time... if it came automatically to me, I would do it all the time, like rice, no?
I once ate it as a pilaf with lots of cut up veggies - carrots, peppers, onions, peas... it was really good.
MadelynRodriguez at 5:18PM on 03/10/09
Look no further than SE. This recipe http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/09/black-bean-tomato-quinoa-healthy-delicious-recipe.html is FANTASTIC. I cook the quinoa in a little veggie or chicken stock to amp up the flavour and add some chili flakes.
This one from the NYTimes is also beautiful. I've doen it with shrimp, with avocado and just with a tin of black beans. It's a very bright flavour.
BananaMonkey at 5:26PM on 03/10/09
Use it any place you would eat rice!
*Mix it with spices and beans and put it in tacos.
*Along the same lines, mix with fajita veggies for a side dish with anything Mexican.
*Go Asian with soy sauce, ginger, etc., then use as a base for stir fry
*Mix with butter, brown sugar, raisins, milk for a sortof rice pudding. Leave out the milk (or add less) for a tasty breakfast in lieu of oatmeal
*Add pepperoncini, kalamata olives, feta cheese, tomatoes, onions for a Greek salad
*Use in place of bulgur for tabbouli
*Cover with roasted vegetables or cooked meat
*Mash beans, add breadcrumbs and egg, then add quinoa and desired seasonings for veggie patties
For all of these, just don't forget to rinse the quinoa. Unless you buy pre-rinsed, it contains a coating (called saponin, I believe) that imparts a bitter, soapy taste unless you rinse it off.
PestoGal at 5:28PM on 03/10/09
I absolutely love quinoa! All of the above suggestions are great -- I never thought of toasting it but now I will. It is so easy to cook -- once the water is boiling pour in the quinoa, stir, cover, reduce heat to low. It's perfectly done in eighteen minutes. Sometimes when I'm too tired to cook anything else I make some quinoa and stir in a little butter and grate some pecorino over it -- there's dinner!
ride&cook at 5:44PM on 03/10/09
oops, here's teh NYTimes link. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/04/health/nutrition/04recipehealth.html
BananaMonkey at 5:46PM on 03/10/09
My housemate just made cornbread that was actually half cornmeal, half quinoa. Can I tell you? It was delicious.
BangieB at 6:03PM on 03/10/09
This is my favorite way to prepare it. Simple and delicious. Even my very picky partner loves it.
Quinoa with Carrots
1C quinoa (rinsed well)
1C shredded carrot
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1 1/2 Tbs oil
2C low sodium chicken stock
Heat oil in saucepan over medium high heat. Add quinoa and carrot and cook, stirring, until quinoa starts to pop. Add broth and cardamom. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, about 20 minutes. Fluff with fork like rice.
Enjoy!
sfgoo at 6:37PM on 03/10/09
More great ideas: http://www.seriouseats.com/talk/2007/11/quinoa-what-the.html
kfarrel3 at 7:52PM on 03/10/09
it's got the highest proteins of the grains. it was eated by the inca's before the spaniards prohibited them from eating it because it was so nutritious... at least that's the storyline.... don't know if it's true.
so tasty. the red quinoa is especially tasty as well. sometimes i just drizzle olive oil on it and eat it with a spoon.
pooch at 8:24PM on 03/10/09
I once found recipe for quinoa stuffed acorn squash that had a real "Thanksgiving" flair -- squash, dried cranberries, nuts -- that made a great side for the meat-eaters and a great entree for my vegan guests. I have lost track of the recipe but I expect you could design one of your own by looking for a good stuffed squash recipe and substituting quinoa.
And NPR has an article with some recipes here.
kjgibson at 10:10PM on 03/10/09
I just bought (and made) my first bag of quinoa over the weekend! I made it with chicken stock, then tossed it with halved grape tomatoes, diced zucchini, scallions, feta cheese, fresh dill, and a lemon vinaigrette. The longer it sits, the better it gets!
I'm going to try another salad with dried fruit and nut oils next. Still trying to find the perfect recipe, but it's definitely my new favorite grain!
nosillak at 10:53PM on 03/10/09
(Where's Brooke? She's got answers for this topic!)
I love it for breakfast personally with a little bit of cinnamon :) It's full of good things and energy. Cold salads are good; you could grill some: peppers, zuccinni, portabellas and red onion and do a balsamic dressing? Or do a curry style with some chickpeas and green onion? Man that stuff is good.
also:
Quinoa
hungrychristel at 11:42PM on 03/10/09
I saute some diced sweet potato and onions until they're caramelized, then I mix with the quinoa, add some chopped cilantro and some cumin, toss with olive oil and it's delish!
I also make a tabouleh salad with quinoa...it tastes just like couscous, but it's healthier.
KateRuby at 9:57AM on 03/12/09
Quinoa is the best! It tastes great and cooks up at a fraction of the time as rice with a 1:1 quinoa:liquid ration.
It can be eaten savoury as a rice replacement or sweet for breakfast. Don't be afraid of quinoa. I tossed some into kale and lentil stew (recipe found at SE) yesterday.
Don't fear the quinoa just because it's foreign. Make friends with it.
@kjgibson I think I have that recipe, which means that I might have found it here, or found it referenced here. The search terms "quinoa stuffed squash" should be all you need to google it.
CanadianFoodieGirl at 11:30AM on 03/12/09
Everyone's got the recipe ideas covered, but I thought I'd add that I only cook quinoa, I never make rice - it takes less time to cook than rice, is better for you, AND I feel that it's nearly impossible to burn, unlike rice, where I've had terrible luck.
I set the timer for a minute or so less than however long it says to cook on the package, check it w/ a spoon to see if there's still water at the bottom. If there is I cover it up again and let it cook for a couple minutes. No timer set, but when I come back and the water is gone, it's done and never burns! It's amazing!
allyn at 3:15PM on 03/13/09