Thursday, July 1, 2010

Quinoa - Tastes Great and is Good For You!

If you would like to learn more about quinoa, then you will want to read this article. We will be discussing some of the health benefits of quinoa and some basic quinoa recipes. After reading this article, you should be ready to cook quinoa on your own.

Health Benefits

Quinoa is perhaps one of the healthiest foods on the planet. I addition to being a complete protein source, it has an balanced and abundant amino acid profile. Of particular importance is the abundance of lysine, which is not found in grains. (Quinoa is a seed, not a grain. It is treated like a grain in cooking however.) It also has cystine and methionine, which are also not found in amounts that are significant in grains. The abundance of essential amino acids makes quinoa an ideal staple to the vegetarian diet.

In addition to offering quality protein and amino acids, quinoa is full of slow burning carbohydrates. This is important for both diabetics and anyone trying to lose weight. Slow burning carbohydrates will help keep you full longer. Quinoa is also an excellent source of calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

Two Basic Quinoa Recipes?

Quinoa is cooked through the absorption method in the same way that rice is. However, there are two different methods to cooking quinoa.

When I first began cooking quinoa, I used a 1:2 ratio between quinoa and my cooking liquid. Using this method, you will put your quinoa and liquid in a pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce your heat and cook for around 15 -18 minutes. Turn heat off and allow to sit covered for another five minutes.

While this method works well, I found that I wanted my quinoa to be a bit fluffier. As such, I tried another method and was pleased with the results. In this quinoa recipe, you use a 1:1.25 ratio. Bring your ingredients to a simmer and then reduce to low. Cover and cook for 25 minutes. Allow to sit covered for five more minutes.

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