An ancient superfood rediscovered - and it's tasty!

After consuming what could possibly have been more than my own bodyweight in chicken, I was on a quest for tasty new sources of protein. To my delight, I discovered something quite unexpected! A complex carb that is similar to couscous in it's texture, easy to cook, tastes great served hot or cold, and it's high in protein! Who says you can't have it all!

What is this amazing food you might ask? It's quinoa! If you haven't heard of it, you'll probably want to know it's pronounced "keen-wah". Quinoa is a grain like crop, but is not a true cereal because it is not a grass. The seeds are the part of the plant that we eat. The Incas called it the "mother of all grains", and it's protein content is very high (12% - 18%), much higher and more nutritionally dense than other complex carbohydrate choices such as wheat or rice. It has no gluten, so it's easy to digest. Lots of trace minerals, fiber... and it tastes fabulous!

My favorite brand is Bob's Redmill. It's organic, and found at most local grocery stores. Great stuff! Most quinoa sold in North America has been processed to remove the saponins, which cover the outside. They are bitter and should not be consumed. Quinoa purchased that has not been processed will need to be properly soaked to remove the saponins before cooking. See the link to wikipedia below for further information. The quinoa I buy is already processed, and I cook a large batch at one time. This way, I can divide it into serving portions and then freeze, making it more convenient for mealtime. It does have a distinctive scent when cooking, but has a very light taste and texture.

For a delicious, refreshing light salad, add diced tomatoes and cucumber, to cooled quinoa. Add a little feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette, and voila! Try some today, and enjoy the healthful benefits of this amazing superfood!

Here is a link to the wikipedia article about quinoa. All the info you need on nutritional content, cooking, photos and more can be found there. Enjoy!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa