Taste Life Blog

Quiona is a super food loaded with nutrition that can fill you up, not out, stabilize your blood sugar, and help you with your weight. One cup of quiona has only 250 calories, 4 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein per serving. This is a “wow protein food” when you remember that one ounce of meat is 7 grams of protein. It is an energizing way to start your day.

2 cups milk 1 cup quinoa, rinsed 3 tablespoons brown sugar 1/2 tsp cinnamon Fresh fruit like blueberries or strawberries or your favoriteCombine ingredients in a saucepan. Bring milk to a boil. Add quinoa and return to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered until the milk has been absorbed. Takes about 15 minutes. Stir in the sugar and cinnamon if you desire. Cook until almost all the milk has been absorbed, about 5 to 10 more minutes. Add more milk if needed until the desired consistency. Serve with fruit. You can add chopped nuts, or dried fruits and stir in your favorite sweetener like honey, or maple syrup. You can also place raisins or dried cherries or craisins in the milk and quiona and the milk will plump them up nicely.

Brent Gasser enjoyed the quiona. The Gassers joined us for Sunday brunch. A sign of a good recipe is when the college kids ask for the recipe to make it on their own. Brent is the owner of Yogi Bear Jellystone Park, Wisconsin Dells, WI. www. dellsjellystone.com

More about Quinoa

Quinoa Nutritional Facts:

Serving Size = 1/2 cup cooked

Compare with Oatmeal Nutritional Facts:

Serving Size = 1/2 cup cooked

Basic Quinoa:

1 cup quinoa
1 1/2 cups cold water
Optional: 1/2 tsp salt

Quinoa Cooking Directions:

Soak the quinoa for 15 min in the cooking pot. Soaking helps quinoa to cook evenly, and loosens up the outer coating of saponin, which can give a bitter taste if not removed.

If you don’t have time for a longer soaking, use hot water and soak for five minutes

To Rinse: Stir the quinoa with your hand, and carefully pour off the rinsing water, using a fine mesh strainer at the last.

Drain quinoa well in the strainer, transfer to the cooking pot, add 1 1/2 cups water & 1/2 tsp salt if desired.

Bring to a boil, cover with a tight fitting lid, and turn the heat down to simmer.

Cook for 15 minutes.

Remove quinoa from heat and allow to sit five minutes with the lid on.

Fluff quinoa gently with a fork and serve.

How Do You Cook Quinoa for Salads?

This recipe is from Epicurious.com and creates the perfect texture for salads.

Add quinoa to a saucepan of boiling broth (chicken or vegetable) and cook for 10 minutes.  Drain quinoa in a fine metal sieve and rinse with cold water.

Boil a pot of water and place the sieve over it.  Cover with a kitchen towel and lid and steam for 10 minutes or until fluffy.

Quinoa Storage

Store in a glass or plastic container. It is high in polyunsaturated fats and can keep for a year if you store it in a dark and dry place.