Whatever Rice Can Do, Quinoa Can Do Better

Quinoa (KEEN-wah) is America's new favorite superfood. Qunioa packs a nutritional punch that puts rice and wheat to shame, and based on yesterday's quinoa recipes on blogs it would seem that quinoa blends seamlessly into any culture's dishes. I believe whatever rice can do, quinoa can do better.

Quinoa Recipes 9/29/10

Here is a sampling of quinoa recipes posted around the blogiverse yesterday:

Zuppa Fiorentina - a simple Italian soup.

Quinoa Pilaf featuring Apple Mint - a twist on a Mediterranean favorite that was inspired by the abundance of apple mint in the blogger's garden.

Cornucopia of Quinoa

Apple and Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash - an autumn treat I know my mother will love. I will be preparing this soon.

Roasted Vegetable and Garlic Quinoa - I imagine this could fill my kitchen with savory aromas this winter.

Bulk Quinoa at Whole Foods

1 lb quinoa

I went to the store and bought a pound of quinoa yesterday. I hadn't been able to find quinoa in the local Market Basket, but Whole Foods has a bulk grains section that sells a pound for about the same price as the 14 ounce package I bought at Market Basket over the summer. What a relief, to pay less for something at Whole Foods. Plus Whole Foods is about .8 miles from my new home, so I can walk there and make the trip a health bonus.

Today I plan to cook Salvadoran Red Beans and Lime Quinoa, I will let you know how that turns out.

Remember: Whatever rice can do, quinoa can do better. 

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not to mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

Blame It On Betty White (What Started This Quinoa Kick?)

I have seen quinoa referenced in many vegan cookbooks over the years. I have weighed the purchase at the supermarket against a pound of rice and always I have passed on the more expensive quinoa.

Betty White on SNL and quinoa

This year, like so many others in America, I tuned in to watch Betty White on SNL 5/08/10. During the Delicious Dish segment, Molly Shannon introduced America to quinoa, pronounced KEEN-wah, and my interest was piqued. (at 1:21 minutes)



Certain words with their lesser known, fancy pronunciations have a way of becoming fashionable in our world and at that moment I believed I had stumbled onto a rising quinoa meme.

Sure enough, I found when using this word over the summer that no one of my acquaintance was familiar with the proper pronunciation. I realized I needed to educate a lot of people quickly or risk sounding an insufferable snoot every time I said it.

Quinoa demand on the rise

Reading up on this pseudocereal, I find Indian Country Today reports the price of quinoa has increased 15 fold since the eighties and US quinoa imports more than doubled from 2007 to 2009. I suspect that demand will continue to increase for quinoa in the coming years as more Americans embrace a vegetarian lifestyle.

Of course, none of this would have interested me if Betty White hadn't hosted SNL. I like that she is still one of the trendsetters in my life.

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not to mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.

How do YOU cook quinoa?

Welcome to my blog where we will explore my new favorite food - quinoa. The more I learn about the nutritional benefits of quinoa, the more excited I get about the possibilities of cooking with this powerhouse.

Salvadoran red beans

How do you cook quinoa?

Preparation is very similar to white rice: bring 1 part quinoa and 2 parts water to a boil and simmer 15 minutes. Season to taste before or after. :)

You can also cook quinoa in a crock pot or in the microwave. You may even soak it or germinate it and then serve quinoa raw, if you wish.

lentils

How do you serve quinoa?

So far, I have cooked quinoa with red beans (small, Salvadoran ones, actually) and with lentils. Both times I was very pleased with the results. This whole grain is tolerated as well as white rice, at least no one complains in my family the way some do about brown rice.

Actually, quinoa is not technically a grain. Quinoa shares its heritage with spinach and beets. Although not a grain, quinoa easily substitutes for a grain or starch in any meal.

I will be experimenting and posting all my favorite quinoa recipes and I would love to test out any recipes you recommend. Feel free to link to quinoa recipes in your comments.

Don't be shy, tell me, How do you cook quinoa?

Cheers!

Did you know if you aren’t subscribing to How Do You Cook Quinoa? at the new domain, you risk missing out on new posts and quinoa recipes? Not to mention the upcoming quinoa contest. Subscribe today and learn tasty new ways to enjoy quinoa along with other exciting (and sometimes exotic) ingredients.

Subscribe in a reader

Subscribe to How Do You Cook Quinoa? by Email

You may also follow @keenonquinoa on Twitter.