Making Quinoa: Simple. Lose weight. Protein Packed.

  What is Quinoa?

Quinoa (keen-wa) is a protein packed grain, versatile like rice and looks like couscous. It promotes healthy tissue growth throughout the body and contains:

 

• Iron, 
• Magnesium,
• Vitamin E, 
• Potassium, and 
• All eight of the essential amino acids

It is also gluten free and easily digested. 
Quinoa has a nutty flavour and once you taste it, you'll be a BIG quinoa fan like myself!
This grain is readily available in most supermarkets and is very good value for money, see here.
It can be bought as 'ready to eat' so if you want to try it before you make it from scratch, buy from here

What You Need To Cook Quinoa (3-4 Servings)

• 1 cup of uncooked quinoa, 
• A sieve,
• 2 cups of water,
• Spatula,
• Microwavable bowl,
• Cling film,
• Kitchen cloth.

Note: Measuring cups, like the one illustrated at the top of this post can be bought in a set for £5.99 from here

Directions 

 Step 1

     1. Quinoa seeds have a naturally bitter coating to deter birds, therefore put the cup of quinoa in a   sieve and rinse with cold water

Step 2

      2. Put the rinsed quinoa in the microwavable bowl (make sure its a deep dish, as quinoa expands). 
      3. Cover the bowl with clingfilm (loosely)

 

Step 3

     4. Put the bowl in the microwave and time for 3 minutes. 

      5.When the 3 minutes are up take the bowl out- use a cloth as it's very hot

      6. Take the cling film off slightly and be careful that you don't scold yourself from the steam

      7.Stir and wait for 1 minute before putting it back into the microwave (for another 3 minutes)

 

    8. Quinoa is cooked when the outer edges of the grain are white and spiral like this:

If the quinoa does not look like this, cover and microwave a minute at a time. Also if it's too dry add 1-2 tablespoons of water,

 Recipes to Inspire

I usually use quinoa as part of my salad, or mixed into my cauliflower rice (see previous blog post).

Quinoa with chicken, mixed and frozen vegetables, spinach, sunflower and pumpkin seeds

Below illustrates the types of foods you can make with quinoa which can be accessed from http://www.simplyquinoa.com/

Picture from: http://www.simplyquinoa.com/

Have you guys tried quinoa? Do you prefer it as a savoury or sweet dish? Let me know by commenting below.

Kimren xo