Quinoa is not a new fad but has been around for over 3000 years. South America is still the main source for growing quinoa although farmers in other countries with a suitable climate are also growing it. It seems to be widely available over the counter in most food shops now. If not you can always buy it online.
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What is quinoa?
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To find quinoa you will need to go to the grain section of the shop or catalogue. It is actually a seed from a plant that is related to Spinach and Chard. You can eat the leaves as well as the seeds. Beause the quinoa leaves do not stay fresh for long you can only get them where the quinoa is grown. The seed version however is increasing in production and is recognised by nutritionists as one of the most beneficial foods in terms of mineral and vitamin content.
What is Quinoa Like?
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The seeds are similar to dry rice only about a third of the size. The standard quinoa seed is a pale cream colour .You can occasionally get hold of red and black quinoa seeds aswell. You can buy it in small packs and it is usually ready to cook. You can use them as a replacement for rice or cous cous. This doesn't mean it is bland and uninteresting - far from it. It has a taste and original texture of its own.
How do you cook Quinoa?
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The most basic method of cooking quinoa is to boil it in water and simmer for 10 -12 minutes. The proportions for cooking are 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups of water. All the water will be absorbed by the Quinoa. Occasionally you will come across quinoa that still has a bitter saponin coating. You will need to get rid of this coating by running the quinoa under a tap for a minute or two. Most shops now sell without the coating.
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Once you have cooked the quinoa you can add it as a base for meat dishes instead of rice. There is no almost no limit to what you can do with it. It takes on the flavour of the foods you cook it with and adds it own little bite to the taste.
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If you look closely you can see a "tail" that is just the quinoa germ. It has a crunchy feel to the mouth. It has been thought of as having a nutty feel and taste. I’m not sure I agree but quinoa does taste good.
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You can microwave quinoa and put it in casseroles as a thickening agent. As well as the seed version there is also quinoa flour and quinoa flakes. You do have to go careful with the quinoa flour because it is not a straight substitue for wheat flour.
What is special about Quinoa?
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There are a number of things that make quinoa special. Being Gluten free you can include it into almost any special diet and it will not cause any health complications. Vegans and vegetarians eat it to give them the amino acids that quinoa contains. Because of its carbohydrate makeup its helps sufferers of diabetes and otherr illnesses.
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