Quinoa recipes

andtckrtoo

Cathlete
Hey all - I've been hearing good things about quinoa so I bought some. I'd like to serve it with salmon tonight, but I have no idea how to prepare it other than it's sort of like rice. Does anyone have any good quinoa recipes? Thanks so much!
 
Christine,

Just out of curiosity I went to www.epicurious.com and searched for quinoa recipes. They listed 22, many of which look absolutely yummy and fairly easy to make. I highly recommend you check it out! I've used this website alot and have never been disappointed. Most of the recipes have been reviewed and rated, a feature that I find extremely helpful. HTH.

Michele:)
 
Basic Quinoa
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water or vegetable stock
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon butter or sunflower oil
rinse the quinoa several times in a bowl of cold water to remove the saponin [bitter, protective layer], draining it each time in a fine sieve. bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan, then add 1/4 teaspoon salt and the quinoa. lower the heat, cover the pan, and simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the spiral of the germ is visible, 12 to 15 minutes. let stand for 5 minutes. toss with butter and season with pepper.

I've got a ton more recipes, but this was the fastest and simplest. Enjoy!!!
 
Christine- I just read your <-- post. I'll name some of the other recipes I've got in case you don't think your family will like the basic. I've got "spicy quinoa and potato croquettes", "quinoa and fresh corn with scallions" (DH made this last week and it's yummy! with feta cheese), "curried quinoa wiht peas and cashews" (I know you like Indian food but I'm not sure how much effort you want to put in), "quinoa timbales with currants and pine nuts", and I've also got a pilaf recipe. I just don't want to type them all out!! LOL I can be so lazy.

Let me know if you want me to type out which ones.
 
I use it as a sub for bulgar in tabouli.
You can also sauté (in apple juice, or cooking sherry, or mirin--a japanese cooking sake-- maybe with a touch of oil, perhaps sesame for an asian touch) chopped veggies like red pepper, carrots, whatever floats your boat, and add the cooked quinoa to make a "pilaf".

You can also use it as breakfast cereal.

I'll bet www.vegsource.com has some good quinoa recipes!

I have a quinoa recipe book at home (I'm at the office now), and can look up something specific if you'd like.
 
Amy - I'll probably PM you and ask for some of those recipes. I think I found a good recipe on Epicurious.com - thanks Michele. It's quinoa w/ fried onions. In case anyone is interested - looks simple but good! Thanks Amy, too! I really appreciate it!

QUINOA WITH FRIED ONIONS
Pronounced "keen-wah," this grain, native to South America, has been cultivated for more than 5,000 years. In fact, it is not a true grain at all, but a relative of spinach and Swiss Chard. Over the past 20 years, it has enjoyed a resurgence on plates across America. This might have to do with its nutty flavor or maybe the fact that it has more iron than other grain around and is a great source of vitamins, minerals, and protein.




1/2 cup quinoa
1 cup water
2 medium onions
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated Parmesan cheese
Ground black pepper




1. Rinse the quinoa under cold running water until the water turns clear.
2. In a 2-quart saucepan, combine the quinoa and water. Simmer over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes, or until the quinoa begins to soften. Remove from the heat and drain.

3. Meanwhile, peel the onions and cut into 1/8" to 1/4" slices. Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook for about 10 minutes, or until they soften and brown. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, as necessary to prevent burning.

4. In a medium bowl, combine the quinoa, onions, parsley, cheese, and pepper to taste. Toss well. Serve as a side dish.

Per serving: 199 calories, 6g protien, 22g carbohydrates, 10g total fat, 2g saturated fat, 5mg cholesterol, 2g dietary fiber, 126mg sodium
Makes 4 servings.
 
That sounds good too!!! I think I'm going to have fun experimenting with this. I'm soo bored with rice and beans.
 
Christine,

That very same recipe caught my eye! I think I'm going to have to try it, too. The other one that looked tempting to me was the Quinoa-Fennel Pilaf. I just LOVE fennel.

I'm LOL because I just went through about 30 of my cookbooks and I couldn't find a single recipe for quinoa. I think my cookbook collection is somewhat dated. Oh geez--I guess I'm going to have to buy a few more:D :p . I just bought a Tofu cookbook for my DH over the weekend, something I wish I liked but I just can't stand it. DH loves it, though.

Michele

:)
 
As an add on - my DH and I are giving up meat for Lent. No, we're not going totally veggie - we're going to follow the Catholic version of meatless and allow fish and seafood, but I plan on serving fish only about 2 times a week. I love the websites I've been given. I'm always looking for good healthy recipes anyway.
 
This post made me laugh. A few years ago I decided to try the wonderfood, quinoa. I bought a box at the local health food store and followed the recipe on the back. It turned into a sodden mass of inedible yukky gray stuff. My DH will never let me forget it. I hope you have better luck. I've never had the courage to try it again.
 
Robin -

*rolls eyes* Oh, I can imagine that happening to me as well! My family is used to my experimenting. I bought mine in bulk from Whole Foods, so I'm hoping it's pretty high quality.

I'll let you know how it goes. It looks interesting.
 
>This post made me laugh. A few years ago I decided to try the
>wonderfood, quinoa. I bought a box at the local health food
>store and followed the recipe on the back. It turned into a
>sodden mass of inedible yukky gray stuff. My DH will never let
>me forget it. I hope you have better luck. I've never had the
>courage to try it again.


My DH would eat that! He's like Mikey--he eats everything--LOL!

Michele:)
 
Christine, if you find some good recipes, I would appreciate you posting them. I'd be willing to give the stuff another try. Maybe some evening when DH isn't home.
 
Just be sure to rinse it well. It is naturally coated with a bitter substance that needs to be removed before preparing.
 
Robin - I made the above recipe with a few changes... Didn't have parsely, so I put in a tbsp of fresh basil. Cut it down to one onion, and added some fresh spinach (probably about a cup - I just kind of dumped it in with the onions once the onions were done). One onion was definitely enough. It was very, very good. My entire family loved it. I highly recommend trying it again - but buy the stuff bulk, not in a box.
 
I'm trying this one next from lightandtasty.com:

Quinoa Squash Pilaf

INGREDIENTS

1 cup quinoa, rinsed
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) vegetable broth
1/4 cup water
2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 medium yellow summer squash, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 cup chopped leeks (white portion only)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large tomato, chopped
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 cups fresh baby spinach, chopped

SERVINGS 8

CATEGORY Low Fat

METHOD Other stovetop

PREP 30 min.

COOK 20 min.

TOTAL 50 min.

DIRECTIONS

In a large nonstick skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray, toast the quinoa over medium heat until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
In a small saucepan, bring broth and water to a boil. Add quinoa. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed; set aside.
In a large nonstick skillet, saute the zucchini, yellow squash, leeks and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in the tomato, cilantro, seasonings and quinoa; heat through. Add spinach; cook and stir until spinach is wilted. Yield: 8 servings.

NUTRITIONAL INFO
Nutritional Analysis: 3/4 cup equals 126 calories, 3 g fat (trace saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 377 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 5 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat.
 

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