Have You Tried Cooking Quinoa?
by Wendy Polisi
If you have not tried quinoa yet you are really missing out! This tiny ancient seed was once the staple of the Incan diet. It was considered sacred and some people called it the "mother grain". Although it has been around for centuries, only recently has this seed become popular in the western world. Just a few years ago, few people had even heard of quinoa. Now, most grocery stores in major cities stock quinoa on their shelves. At the very least, you can find quinoa at your local natural food market.
Although quinoa is a seed, it is treated like a grain in cooking. In fact, even nutritional experts often make the mistake of calling this seed a grain. Quinoa can be used in many ways. It is so versatile that it works just as well in a warm morning cereal as it does in a stir fry. There are few things better when it heats up than a cold quinoa salad! Quinoa can be used in soups, casseroles and even as a binding for meatballs and meat loaf.
Although quinoa is a seed, it is treated like a grain in cooking. In fact, even nutritional experts often make the mistake of calling this seed a grain. Quinoa can be used in many ways. It is so versatile that it works just as well in a warm morning cereal as it does in a stir fry. There are few things better when it heats up than a cold quinoa salad! Quinoa can be used in soups, casseroles and even as a binding for meatballs and meat loaf.
Cooking quinoa is very simple and it takes just half the time of cooking rice. Perhaps the best part of quinoa is its nutritional profile. Regardless of what your health goals are, quinoa can help you achieve them. Experts consider quinoa a superfood. Not only does it provide you with a low calorie source of slow burning carbohydrates, quinoa is also loaded with protein and fiber. A one cup serving has 5 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein! With only 220 calories, this is clearly a great option if you are trying to shed a few pounds.
Quinoa is a great source of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. Just one cup of cooked quinoa has over 30 mg of calcium!
Quinoa is gluten free making it an excellent option for those who have food sensitivities. Those who cannot eat wheat, barley, oats, and corn generally fair quite well with quinoa.
Athletes like quinoa because it is loaded with the amino acids that your body requires to recover from intense exercise. Quinoa has all eight of the essential amino acids that your body needs for health. Unlike other grains, quinoa has lysine, which plays a critical role in the repair of your cells. The amino acid profile is considered on par with that of milk protein. If you haven't tried it yet, you really should try cooking quinoa!
It is a healthy gluten-free grain with low glycemic carbohydrate in it.
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