First quinoa experience today

[DKing]

Berardi and Johnka write about this stuff all the time, and for a grain it has a kickass nutrition profile so I have been trying to find some. I finally found it at the grocery store yesterday and ate some for the first time today.

It wasn't bad, but it was pretty bland. Does anyone who eats this stuff have a good way to dress it up? Any good recipies?

I am digging though Gourmet nutrition now to see if there is anything in there.

Thanks guys.

Danny

[BFG]

doh! whats quinoa in case we have a different name for it here as often is the case

[Ogedei]

I've watched some shows out of your neck of the woods BFG and it was called quinoa as well. Pronounced 'keen wah'. It is an ancient grain. Kinda nutty.

I tried it in oatmeal thid weekend, and found it didn't cook nearly as fast as oats, and so was still crunchy.

I have no recipes for you dking, as I just found the stuff myself recently.

Og.

[UpNorth]

Ginger, lemon, cilantro are all good. Hot sauce will jazz it up nicely as well. Raisins will work or any other dried fruit for that matter. A little apple cider vinegar with some butter. Basically just season it with the same seasonings your main dish contains and it'll work out fine.

[BjsAust]

Johnkas Gourmet Nutrition book has a great chicken and quinoa recipe. Citrus flavored I believe. My GF and I love it, but my sister tried it the other day and wasnt a fan.

And yeah, I used to pronounce it kwin-oh-ah until I heard it pronounced keenwah the other day.

[Ogedei]

hahahh that's how I used to pronounce it as well!

Cool!

Og.

[Johnka]

Danny,

At least you didn't think it tasted like "the devil's vomit", like I've heard from some first-timers [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Lime definitely compliments it, as does cilantro and picante sauce, like UpNorth said. Look up 'Peruvian Chicken' in GN. I also put a recipe in there for cold quinoa salad - an often overlooked, but very tasty one.

[BFG]

well never had it but shall email my culinary expert best friend tomorrow for you but found this and my mouths watering!!!!!!

Ingredients


spinach leaves 1 bunch
vegetable stock (hot) 600 ml
quinoa (well washed) 300 gm
garlic 1 tsp
spring onions 1 pc
sea saltsq
freshly ground black pepper sq
nutmeg sq
parsnips 1 pc
carrots 1 pc
turnips 1 pc
beetroot 1 pc
celeriac 1 pc
balsamic vinaigrette 150 ml


Method

1. Place the washed, picked spinach leaves (leave most of the stems on) and the hot vegetable stock into a blender and blend until smooth

2. Combine spinach broth, garlic, scallions, quinoa and seasonings in a saucepan

3. Cover and allow to simmer over a medium-low burner for 10-12 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed

4. Remove from heat and allow to rest, covered, for 5 minutes.

While quinoa is resting....

5. Peel each vegetable and cut into batons (large matchsticks)

6. Place balsamic vinaigrette in a bowl and toss with vegetables to coat evenly

7. Place vegetables on a non-stick baking pan, or spray with vegetable oil to prevent sticking

8. Roast vegetables in a 240ºC oven for 5 minutes or place under the salamander (grill)

9. Deep fry the rice vermicelli

To serve the dish….

10. Place a round pastry cutter in the centre of a plate and fill with the quinoa, carefully remove the cutter to leave a nice, neat circle

11. Remove vegetables from pan and arrange on serving plate around the quinoa, drizzled with a little balsamic vinaigrette

12. Top with the fried noodles




Chef's Tip

For a nuttier flavour the raw quinoa may be lightly toasted in a hot oven
prior to cooking

Quinoa contains more fat than most grains, it provides almost 4 grams of fat (and 238 calories) in this recipe. However, the type of fat provided is unsaturated fat which has cholesterol lowering effects. Quinoa is also a nutritional powerhouse containing higher levels of protein, iron, potassium, riboflavin, folic acid, calcium magnesium and zinc than other grains.



Enjoy and bon appetit . . . . .

[Marykaa]

QUINOA
I've got some and some receipies I'll post here soon.. but I'll try to get more recipes.. my son's girlfriend is from Bolivia.. (moved here when she was 10) and her mother makes it all the time in different ways.

[BjsAust]

[ QUOTE ]
Look up 'Peruvian Chicken' in GN. I also put a recipe in there for cold quinoa salad - an often overlooked, but very tasty one.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats it, Peruvian Chicken. Love it. Use it a lot when we know we'll be in a hurry (eating before heading out or something). We'll have to give the salad a go too.

[DKing]

Rock on, thanks a lot guys. Johnka, it wasn't bad at all, I can definatly see myself eating it more, especially with a little more flavor. I found it more bland than anything.

Danny

[ODBSGIRL]

Hey Danny, ODB and I were introduced to this wonderful grain while in Peru. I've cooked it in chicken stock-it gives it a little more flavor. You can treat it like risotto and add your favorite veggies, you can put it with chicken or vegetable broth and stew veggies for a hearty soup, or sweeten it up and use it in place of oatmeal for a change of pace. The nice thing is you can find it in the bulk bins of health food stores and it is really inexpensive and makes a nice change to rice or pasta. If you have recipes for rice or couscous dishes that you like, just substitute the quinoa and it should be great.

[emartin10]

A little low sodium soy sauce does wonders as well. Or just put in on a bed of spinach with a seasoned chicken breast and some pepper. Yummy.

E

[Marykaa]

humm.. late is part of the word "translate".. sorry..

BFG I'll try that soon.

here is the first recipe I had.. (translated by me )

Quinoa salad with cashews and sesame sauce
2 cups quinoa
4 cups water
salt
1 red pepper
1 small green onion
2 carrots
100g emmenthal cheese
basil
a good handfull of cashews

sesame sauce :
2 tbsp Tahini
2 tsp garlic purée
4 tsp soya sauce
2 tbsp lemmon juice
4 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp fine herbs

cook quinoa in water for 10 minutes, let stand , covered till the water is absorbed. put salt and mix.

Place in a large bowl. cut into small pieces the red pepper , oignons and carrots and the cheese and the basil.

pepare the sesame sauce by mixing the ingredients in order continuously mixing,

refrigerate until ready to serve. add the cashews just before serving.

[cappuccino]

That recipe sounds yummy, marykaa.

I like mine with swiss or mozz cheese melted on it....mmmm like pasta

[Lost Dog]

I like it in soup, sorta like barley.

[MarkMero]

BFG, even Tesco sell quinoa these days so you should have no problem finding it.

Here's a spanish recipe that i found: http://www.recipezaar.com/112446

Looks pretty tasty!

[BFG]

Marc shall have a look still trying to wash my taste buds after my "friend" introduced me to that viile stuff Bulgar wheat bleurghhhh :-D

[TDPurcell]

I found a 19 quinoa recepies here....

Link