Food: Quinoa - All Translations

[edit] About Quinoa

Quinoa is eaten as a grain, though is actually a relative of spinach and chard; it is the seed of the plant. It has a nutty taste and slightly crunchy texture. It is high in protein, a good source of fiber and rich in manganese, magnesium and iron. Quinoa seeds are coated with bitter saponins, which need to be removed prior to cooking, as they not only taste bad, but are also bad for digestion. Most commercial quinoa is sold with the saponin removed, but the seeds can also be placed in a fine mesh strainer and rinsed under cold water to remove it.

Use a 1 to 2 quinoa to water ratio: boil 1 cup water (and 1/4 tsp salt, optional) and add rinsed quinoa. Reduce heat to low and simmer 12-15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. You will notice little strands appear on the grains.