Cooked Quinoa

 A super side dish to substitute for rice...

Quinoa is a grain (actually the seed of a plant) that is similar to white rice when cooked. Unlike white rice, quinoa is an excellent source of protein (it contains all essential amino acids), and it is also a great source of fiber. This gluten-free food has a mild nutty flavor and a soft and chewy texture.

Quinoa is pronounced like "KEEN-wah." It's available in many grocery stores. I found a large bag of it at Costco.

When I make Slow-Cooker Chicken & Sun-Dried Tomatoes or Pineapple Chicken, I serve it over quinoa. Talk about tasty--that combination tastes mind-bogglingly good.

When preparing quinoa, first rinse it with cold water in a strainer to remove bitter-tasting "saponins" that naturally coat the quinoa. Some quinoa is packaged pre-washed, but it's usually recommended to wash it again. I've found that the seeds all clump together when I rinse them (annoying), but I figure that running a constant stream of water through them in a strainer with very small holes should still do the trick.

When cooking the quinoa, use 1 part quinoa and 2 parts water--just like rice.

Sometimes, I use chicken broth instead of water for added flavor (really tasty). I usually make the broth by dissolving a chicken bouillon cube in water--1 cube for each cup of water.

I like toasting the quinoa before cooking it because I think it gives it a really special flavor and texture. It doesn't have to be toasted first, so if you're short on time, you can go straight to adding the water.

Cooked quinoa tastes delicious--and not only that, but it will beat white rice in a nutrition competition any day of the week.

Cooked Quinoa
Estimated preparation time: 45 minutes
Serves: 6 - 8 

Ingredients

• 2 cups dry quinoa
• 4 cups water (or chicken broth or vegetable stock)
• 1 tablespoon butter

Instructions

1. Rinse quinoa under cold water then shake out as much water as possible.
2. Transfer quinoa to a large saucepan and heat it over medium heat, while stirring with a spatula, for about 2 minutes.
3. After some of the leftover water (from rinsing the quinoa) has evaporated, add the butter and toast the quinoa (stirring often) until it's golden brown and makes a popping sound--this takes 10-15 minutes.

4. Carefully add the water or broth/stock to the pot. Stir.

5. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover it and simmer (stirring often) until the water has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender--15-25 minutes.

 6. Serve it as a side dish, top it with the main course, or enjoy it plain.


Enjoy!