Quinoa (pronounced “keen-wa”) is an ancient food that was treasured by the Incas in South America as a sacred food over 4000 years ago. Quinoa is usually referred to as a grain, but it is actually more closely related to the leafy green family and produces edible leaves and seeds. In this blog post, I thought I would share one of my favourite recipes – Quinoa Greek Salad.
Why is it a superfood?
The unique thing about quinoa is that it is also gluten-free so it is a great complement for those on gluten-free diets. It has regained its popularity in recent times for its high nutritional value – it is very high in protein, but what makes it very special, is that it is a complete protein. This means that it contains all of the essential amino acids that humans need. There are few plant foods that are complete proteins. This makes it an excellent choice for vegetarians and athletes and people who generally want to be healthy. Quinoa is also rich in magnesium, fiber, iron and manganese. It is similar to rice in texture and has a soft nutty flavor. It comes in several varieties including white, red and black.
How to Cook
Quinoa is very easy to cook. It cooks similar to rice, and cooks perfectly in a rice cooker.
- Rinse well with 1-2 changes of warm water.
- Add 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups of water and bring to a boil.
- Turn heat to low and simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring regularly.
- Serve immediately or keep in fridge for 2-3 days.
- If you need to reheat, just sauté lightly in a non-stick skillet with olive oil
Quinoa Greek Salad
Ingredients
1 cup cooked quinoa
½ cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
½ cup cucumber, diced
½ cup grape tomatoes, cut in half
¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled
1 tbsp black olives, chopped
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions:
- In a small glass, combine olive oil, vinegar and lemon juice and whisk with a fork.
- In a medium bowl, combine all remaining ingredients and toss. Drizzle with dressing.
- Serves 2 lunch portions.
Other Recipe Ideas:
- Substitute quinoa in your favorite rice dishes
- Serve with curry dishes
- Cook as a hot cereal for breakfast
- Add to soups and salads
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What is your favorite way to eat quinoa? We’d love your feedback. Here on this blog, you’ll get commentluv. This is a great opportunity to leave a link back to your own blog too!
Until next time,
Stephanie
[...] If you are new to quinoa and unsure how to cook it, just check out my previous post for cooking instructions here. [...]