If you are looking for something new to add to your families menu, one thing that you should consider is cooking quinoa. Quinoa is easy to prepare and taste great. It also happens to be one of the most nutritious foods that you will ever find! Here are some basic cooking instructions as well as some ideas about how you can serve quinoa.
Basic Instructions
Quinoa is cooked by the absorption method, just like rice. There are two basic techniques that people use to prepare quinoa. The first utilizes a 1 to 2 ratio between the quinoa and the liquid. You place the quinoa and liquid in a pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover. Cook for 15 to 18 minutes.
The second method uses a 1 to 1.25 ratio between the quinoa and the liquid. You bring the items to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cook covered for 35 to 45 minutes or until the liquid is fully absorbed. Both cooking techniques work well, but the second one is my favorite because it yields a very fluffy quinoa.
Serving Suggestions
There are many techniques and methods that you can use for cooking quinoa. Here are just a few serving suggestions.
- In a salad
- In a soup
- As
- Image by Sifu Renka via Flickr
a warm breakfast cereal – Try mixing ½ cooked quinoa with ½ oatmeal!
- In place of pasta or rice in your favorite casserole – Try Chicken and Quinoa or Macaroni and Quinoa
- In stir fry
- In bread
- In place of bread crumbs in meatballs or meat loaf.
Health Benefits
Quinoa is one of the healthiest foods that you could hope to serve your family. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Additionally, it has more protein than any grain! Unlike many vegetarian protein sources, quinoa is considered complete. This means that it contains all of the amino acids that are critical for your health.
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