Are You Keen on Quinoa?

Hi Kathryn,

Thanks for trying it out--I am so glad you liked it!  The salad is also a good "starter" recipe for those not too familiar with the grain.  Once you get going, you may not be able to stop experimenting (at least, I wasn't!). 

http://dietdessertdogs.wordpress.com ( http://dietdessertdogs.wordpress.com/ )

Hi Karina, 

I just added quinoa flakes to my grocery list.  I'm wondering if you can use it as a binder in things like meatloaf too?  Probably better for my diet than things like breadcrumbs or oatmeal.  

Quinoa + peanut butter = yum, I'm guessing! 

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

Calya- Try the quinoa flakes I mentioned to Kalyn. They're a cereal, like oatmeal, and perfect for baking.

k a r i n a

Karina's Kitchen: Recipes from a [Gluten-Free] Goddess ( http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/ )

A Painter's Kitchen [art. words. life.] ( http://painterskitchen.blogspot.com/ )

Great post, Kalyn!

Thanks for the recipe mention. I just want to add: quinoa flakes are very much like oatmeal. The Quinoa Breakfast Cake you mentioned features the flaked version of quinoa. You can find it in the cereal section of natural food stores. It makes for a tasty hot cereal, and is fab in baking oatmeal-like cookies. And yeah, cake for breakfast!

Kalyn (and Alanna)- you could try the quinoa flakes with peanut butter- based on the peanut butter oatmeal recipe you like.

k a r i n a

Karina's Kitchen: Recipes from a [Gluten-Free] Goddess ( http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/ )

A Painter's Kitchen [art. words. life.] ( http://painterskitchen.blogspot.com/ )

Hi Kathryn,

Love the sound of chickpeas, olives and prunes combined in a dish with quinoa.  Saving that recipe.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

Hi there Kalyn, I'm new to quinoa as well.  Although I've been inspired by Diet Dessert and Dogs to try out more recipes.  My favourite is the tagine with chickpeas, olives and prunes ( http://dietdessertndogs.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/l... ).  Tried it a couple of weeks ago and not only does this dish cook itself, it's also fabulous.

Besides the obviously nutritional benefits, I think what appeals to me most about quinoa is how versatile it is. 

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

Sounds really delicious and healthy too! 

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

Great recipes! I never would have imagined that quinoa could be used for baking.  I have only had quinoa plain on the side of salmon once and always wanted to try it again. Some of my friends do not like it because they say it reminds them of fish eggs.  Weird. I know.

 Calya

www.cookiediaries.blogspot.com ( http://www.cookiediaries.blogspot.com/ )

Kidney Beans & Quinoa
1 tbs olive oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup celery stalk, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp dried thyme,
crumbled
1 tbs paprika
1/2 tbs dried oregano
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
15 ozs canned kidney beans, rinsed and
drained
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup quinoa
Bring vegetable broth and quinoa to a boil, then cover and simmer 15
minutes.
In a medium skillet, saute the onion, bell pepper and celery until soft.
Stir in the garlic, thyme and spices and cook until fragrant.
Add the beans and simmer until the quinoa is done.
Plate the quinoa and top with beans.
Prep Time: 0:10 Cook
Time: 0:20 Skill Level: Average Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 Calories: 291 Fat: 7.3g
Unsaturated Fat: 5.47g Protein: 14.5g Carb.: 52.8g
Sugar: 2.2g Sodium: 416.2mg Cholesterol: 0mg
Fiber: 11.1g

Nutrition by ingredient ( http://www.mealmixer.com/Menu-Planner/shownutr.asp... ) ( http://www.mealmixer.com/Menu-Planner/settaste.asp... )Rate
Ingredients ( http://www.mealmixer.com/Menu-Planner/settaste.asp... )

So funny to see this post since I made a quinoa salad this evening. Everyone in our house loves it. Loved this post since I had not thought of using quinoa in anything other than savory dishes. Thanks for all the new options!

I appreciate you confirming that it doesn't need to be rinsed.  It's on my shopping list for this week.  Glad you liked the post. 

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

Hi Kalyn,

What a great collection of quinoa recipes--so glad to be included!  I adore quinoa and was happy to see so many more options to use it here (espeically the baked goods!).  And I never rinse my quinoa any more; it still turns out fine.

I read several places that a few years ago quinoa had to be thoroughly rinsed or it would have a rather "off" taste.  But if  you buy the boxed quinoa (I know, packaging!) it's pre-rinsed and supposed much easier to get good results. 

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

I'm going to buy some this weekend.  I love the way the red quinoa looks. 

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

I've only tried quinoa once a long time ago.  What I cooked had a distinctly "grassy" taste that completely turned me off.  But I'm willing to try it again.  Especially with all those benefits to it.  

Debra
A Stitch In Time ( http://astitchintime.blogspot.com )
Deb's Daily Distractions ( http://debsdistractions.blogspot.com )

My daughter loves it too!  Prefers it to rice, and loves it just with butter and parm also.  Though, she loves it with anything.... and yes, i use it in salds as pasta" salad also.  Great stuff!

In my experience, it's a totally kid-friendly food. :) 

___________
Alyssa Royse
JUST CAUSE: ( http://www.justcauseit.com ) A Web Site To Save The World

Start Her Up ( http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/startherup/ ): A blog for Women Entrepreneu

I tried some bread made with quinoa that Trader's Joe's promoted. I was not impressed with the bread, but I had no idea there were so many other uses for quinoa. Worth looking into. 

http://www.webteacher.ws/
http://first50.wordpress.com/

I never thought about it as a kid-friendly food, so that's really nice to hear.  Love the idea of butter and parmesan on quinoa, sounds great!  Also sounds good as a stand-in for pasta in salad.   

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

My kids prefer quinoa to brown or white rice. The go-to method is just with some butter and parm. They like the consistency and the "pop" it does in your mouth. I've served it to lots of little friends with rave reviews.

it's also awesome as a take-along for picnics mixed with whatever you normally make pasta salad with. Lots of questions--you turn into a picnic rockstar! ;-)

A Year of CrockPotting ( http://www.crockpot365.blogspot.com )

I have the same problem, so many recipes so little time.

Fun seeing you commenting on BlogHer Tanna!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

I guess if I want to use it, I need to put some in the pantry ;)  My intentions are good but I don't have any at the moment.  There are just so many things to cook.

Thanks for sharing.  I can tell I need to get cooking with it. 

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

Pretty much any time that you walk into my house, there will be a big glass bowl of "prepared" quinoa in our fridge. Nothing in it, just cooked and put in the fridge. We then use it all day long:

As breakfast cereal instead of oatmeal, heated with a little milk and honey or syrup.

As a salad with feta and avocado or whatever else.

Stuffed in squash, mixed with cranberries and walntus and baked.

As a grain side dish with whatever meat is for dinner (instead of something like rice.) 

Eaten right out of the bowl along with a hard boiled egg.

We LOVE quinoa, eat it all the time in a variety of ways. It's an awesome fiber, super base for anything. MMMMMMM.  

___________
Alyssa Royse
JUST CAUSE: ( http://www.justcauseit.com ) A Web Site To Save The World

Start Her Up ( http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/startherup/ ): A blog for Women Entrepreneu