What is Quinoa and Why Should You Eat It?

Is quinoa a regular part of your diet? If you haven't tried it yet, then I highly recommend that you consider getting some.

Quinoa is very similar to rice and cous cous, as it has very similar properties to them, and you can cook and prepare it in pretty much the same fashion. It has a slightly nuttier flavor, but depending upon how you prepare it, it can taste quite similar as well.

Quinoa is not actually a grain, however, because it does not come from grass. It is also more nutritious and easier to digest than most grains. Quinoa is high in magnesium and iron and is made up of between 12-18% protein with a balanced set of essential amino acids. It is gluten free and is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus. On top of the nutritional value, it cooks very fast and is really easy to prepare.

I remember making a quinoa salad once and bringing it to a family gathering, where I learned that my uncle pays an arm and a leg for single serving boxes of quinoa from his local health food store. That really isn't necessary, though. You probably don't have to search too hard to find where you can buy it on the cheap in your local grocery store. You can probably find it in the bulk organic foods section, where you can get it by the pound if you want that much.

Depending upon where you get your quinoa and how much it is processed, you may need to take a few extra steps before cooking it. If it isn't pre-rinsed, you will probably want to rinse it off due to the high levels of sapponin that coats the outside of the seed. The sapponin gives the quinoa a bitter taste and can be mildly toxic, which prevents birds and insects from bothering with it so that it does not require any unnatural pesticides. Most quinoa sold commercially in North America has been processed to remove the coating of sapponin for you, but it only takes a minute to rinse.

Once it has been rinsed, toss a cup of quinoa into a cup to two cups of water, bring to a boil, and then lower the heat to simmer until the water has been absorbed. Depending upon how much water you use, it can take as little as 10 minutes to completely cook. You can cook it with a little olive oil and basil to have a side dish ready to serve, or you can get a little more exotic and prepare it with vegetables or herbs to modify the taste.

So the next time you get to the store, pick some up and give it a try.

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