If you
haven't tried quinoa (KEEN-wa) please go get some. It's not a grain but the
seed of a type of Goosefoot plant. We're talking lots of protein, fiber, and
iron, to name just a few health essentials. Let's thank the Incas for revering
this edible seed.
Despite the
fact that it is not a grain, quinoa cooks up much like rice. Use two cups of
water to one cup of quinoa. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat then simmer about
15 minutes. Cooked quinoa still has a bit of tooth. Fluff it with a fork and
you're done. You can also cook quinoa by adding it to soups and stews like you
would rice, barley, or pasta. Some folks advise to rinse the quinoa prior to
cooking in order to be sure to remove any bitter residue. I've rinsed and I've
not rinsed and I can't taste a difference.
Is it gluten
free? I'm not at all well-versed in gluten-free foods and I've no dietary
restrictions on gluten but everything I've read about quinoa seems to agree
that it is considered "gluten free." The information I've read does
indicate, however, that people could have gluten issues when the quinoa is
processed into other products like flakes or pastas. This might be due more to
contamination issues with the processing rather than the quinoa itself. Please
do your research on the quinoa products you intend to eat if you are allergic
to gluten.
I buy quinoa
in bulk and I usually buy equal amounts of regular (white) and red. I love to
combine them. I can't tell a difference in taste but I love the color combo. To
make the pilaf pictured above, I cooked a mixed cup of red and white quinoa,
fluffed with a fork and set aside. While the quinoa was cooking, I diced
(pretty tiny) half of a zucchini, half of a carrot, and an onion. I also
chopped 2 cloves of garlic and a handful of fresh parsley. In a large non-stick
skillet I heated a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil
was hot I added all of the ingredients to the pan except the parsley. I stirred
and tossed and cooked this veggie mix for ten minutes or so. Seasoned with salt
and pepper, a dash of cumin and a dash of homemade garam masala and I was
finished. I added the cooked quinoa and the parsley to the skillet and tossed
until everything was combined. Serve this hot or as a salad.
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