Hot to cook Quinoa? What is Quinoa & Where it Originated: Quinoa (pronounced as kveen·vaa) is a flowering plant in the amarnath family. It's a grain crop primarily used for its edible seeds. After harvest the seeds are processed to remove the bitter tasting outer seed coat. Quinoa is gluten free and can be used instead of wheat or rice in many dishes. It's interesting to note that cooked quinoa supplies almost same amount of protein, dietary fiber and minerals.Quinoa originated in the Andean region of northwest South America and was domesticated 3,000 to 4,000 years ago for human consumption in the Lake Titicaca basin of Peru and Bolivia. Nutritional Value Of Quinoa: Quinoa is high on nutrient content such as VIT B, E and dietary fiber. And twice the protein content of rice or barley, it is also a good source of calcium and magnesium. Quinoa is among the least allergenic of all the 'grains', making it a fantastic wheat-free choice. Like buckwheat, quinoa has an excellent amino acid profile, as it contains all nine essential amino acids making it a complete-protein source. Quinoa is therefore an excellent choice for vegans. This is why quinoa is also called the super food or super grain. A 100gm serving of cooked quinoa provide 120 calories, 4g protein, 19g carbs and 2g fiber. How To Cook Quinoa: Quinoa tends to fluff up after cooking. So for every one cup of quinoa you get 2 cups of cooked quinoa.
Start by taking one cup of quinoa. Wash/rinse it thoroughly.
Drain the water.
Transfer to the pan that you will be cooking the quinoa. Add 2 cups of water 1/2 tsp salt and let it come to a boil. Cover and cook on low flame for about 10-12 mins until the quinoa has cooked and doubled in size.
With the help of fork fluff up the quinoa.
Your quinoa is ready.
Notes
Stock can also be used to cook quinoa.
Cooked quinoa seeds become fluffy and creamy yet maintains a slight crunch. It has a delicate and subtly nutty flavour, versatile for breakfast (as a cereal), lunch (as a salad) or dinner (as a side).
About the Author: Before getting married, Avin Kohli was working as an HR professional and had a steady career. But cooking was something that always brought happiness to her. It was not until after her marriage, she realized that food is her true love. She started experimenting different cuisines, flavors, textures which led her to start her blog after 4 long years. With all of this she is also a mother of a toddler which keeps her occupied. Hope you all enjoy her recipes as much as she does. If you like her recipes then join her in her journey of learning, experimenting, sharing and much more.Follow her: Plattershare, Blog, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter