There's a lot of buzz about the nutritional benefits from eating quinoa. For those who would like to try quinoa but have no idea on how to begin cooking with quinoa, here are 3 easy recipes that you can try.
But before we go to the recipes, here are a few reminders on how to prepare quinoa. Before cooking with quinoa, it is important that you first rinse it with water. Quinoa has a bitter coating called saponin that can be removed by rinsing it thoroughly. Most commercial quinoa that you can buy in the supermarkets have been pre-washed. But to make sure that no residue is left behind, it is always prudent to give it a couple of rounds of rinsing.
Now that we have that out of the way, let's take a look at the different ways you can cook with quinoa.
The most basic way of preparing quinoa is by simmering it in water or steaming it the same way you would with rice. Because quinoa seeds absorb a lot of water and expand while its cooked, a good ratio of quinoa to water is 1:2. Quinoa that is prepared this way makes a great side dish to savory meat, chicken or seafood dishes. This is the simplest way that you can prepare quinoa.
But if you would like to use quinoa as your main dish, then you will enjoy these 3 easy quinoa recipes:
Quinoa Recipe #1: Quinoa Oatmeal
You will need 1 cup of quinoa, 2 cups of water, 1 apple cored and chopped, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, crushed almonds, honey.
Instructions: Mix quinoa, water, apple and cinnamon in a pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat down to a simmer. Simmer the mixture for about 20 to 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Transfer to a serving bowl. Add crushed almonds and serve with honey.
Quinoa Recipe #2: Quinoa Paella
You will need 2 cups of quinoa, 1 chopped red onion, 2 cloves garlic crushed, 1/2 tsp saffron soaked in a cup of warm water, 3 cups vegetable broth, 1 red bell pepper, chopped, 1 green bell pepper, chopped, 1 cup green peas, olive oil, lime, salt and pepper.
Instructions: In a pot, heat some olive oil. Stir in the onions and garlic. Add the bell peppers. Next add the quinoa and fry for about a minute. Stir in the saffron and the green peas. Add the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat down to a simmer. Simmer for about 15 minutes. Serve with lime wedges.
Quinoa Recipe #3: Quinoa Veggie Soup
You will need 1 cup of quinoa, 5 cups vegetable broth, 3 cups water, 1 cup of mushrooms, 2 large tomatoes finely chopped, 1 carrot peeled and diced, 1 celery diced, 1 onion finely chopped, 2 cloves garlic, crushed, 1 green bell pepper seeded and chopped, 1/4 head of cabbage chopped, vegetable oil, parsley to garnish and salt and pepper to taste.
Instructions: Heat vegetable oil in a large pot. Use medium heat. Stir in the following ingredients: quinoa, mushroom, celery, carrot, onion, garlic and bell pepper. After a couple of minutes, pour in the chicken broth, water, tomatoes and the cabbage. Bring it to a boil, and then reduce the heat down to a simmer. Simmer for about 15 minutes until quinoa is cooked and vegetables are tender. Add salt and pepper according to taste. Garnish with parsley. Serve warm.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liberty_Simpson
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