Are you looking for a new grain to spice up a bland meal? Or maybe you are trying to find something light in texture for the selective eater at your dinner table? Allow me to suggest my quinoa and my favorite quinoa salad.
Is quinoa a superfood?
Quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) has been said to be the “supergrain of the future.” The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations officially declared that during the year of 2013, it was to be The International Year of the Quinoa.
Native to the Andes Mountains of Bolivia, Chile, and Peru, quinoa has been eaten by natives for some 5,000 years! Among the Inca’s it was a staple food and still is for their descendants. Unbeknownst to the ancient Incas, quinoa has some amazing nutritional values.
- 58% DV manganese
- 16% DV protein
- 30% DV magnesium
- 19% DV folate
- 28% DV phosphorus
More good things:
- wheat-free
- gluten-free
- complete protein (great for vegetarians)
Is quinoa better for you than rice?
Well, I wouldn’t say it’s better. Quinoa simply has a different nutritional profile than rice.
Does quinoa taste good?
Quinoa can have a bitter taste so be sure to thoroughly rinse it before cooking. In general, it is very light texture and has a mild flavor that goes quite well with many other foods.
Quinoa is a great addition to any diet. It is low on the glycemic index, high in lysine and a great source of iron and fiber, too. I could really go on, so why not give these links a try to learn even more for yourself:
One of my favorite ways to prepare quinoa is simply as a cold salad. I typically make 8 servings at a time and toss it into a sealed container to store in the fridge. It stays well for about 5 days, so you can make more to be ready for the week.
Do you have leftover quinoa from the evening before? Well, it can easily be used in the same manner as oatmeal or whole grain cold cereal. Simply add the cooked quinoa to a bowl with your favorite milk, some dried cranberries, chopped walnuts and a sprinkle of cinnamon. You can eat this cold or heated.
Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa cooked
- 2 large kale leaves chopped
- 4 medium grape tomatoes cut in quarters
- 1/2 medium carrot peeled and grated
- 1/4 tablespoon red onion diced finely
- 1/2 medium yellow bell pepper diced
- 1/4 medium avocado diced
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon fresh black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 medium lemon juiced
Instructions
- Add all ingredients through almonds to a large mixing bowl. Toss to combine.
- In a small bowl add salt, pepper, olive oil and juice of lemon. Whisk well.
- Drizzle over quinoa and toss to evenly coat. Serve immediately or place in a sealed container; store in the fridge.
There are simply so many ways to serve up this amazing superfood. Be creative and let me know your favorite flavor in the comments.
Note: The nutrient information for the quinoa was taken from Nutrition Self Data website and is based on one cup cooked quinoa.
Hope for the New Year!
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