Quinoa?

thenewme

I love quinoa, but can anyone share some recipes or ideas for quinoa? Also, do the different varieties have much flavor difference? 

My favorite way to eat it is with spicy green chile and some grated cheddar on top, sometimes with meat and sometimes not.  

My kids love it with alfredo sauce on top instead of pasta.

I don't so much like it plain and I often use it instead of rice or pasta, but I'd love some new ideas and inspiration!  Anybody?

crazy4carrots

Try www.epicurious.com, which has some good recipes for quinoa.  I favour any recipe that has onions and garlic!  Two great things (besides its nutrients) about quinoa -- a little goes a long way, and you can dress it up pretty much however you want -- because it's pretty bland without!

dreaming

Being from the land where Quinua comes  from,I will give you some web sites, many are bilingual or you can use Goggle translator, we use it just like noodles,or rice, we make soup, baked, desserts, drinks, candies,here they are

Bolivian web, Bolivian recipes, Bolivian cooking, Bolivian cook books.

thenewme

Oooh - I haven't seen or tried quinoa flakes, but this sure looks yummy:

http://www.quinoatips.com/quinoa-flakes-fruit-and-nut-bar/#more-220 

Dreaming - thanks for the tips! I'll definitely look up some more things - any favorite ways you like to use it?  

OneBadBoob

One of my favorite breakfast cereals is:

1/4 cup quinoia

1/4 cup millet

1/4 cup amaraeth (sp?)'

1.5 cups water

Either cook them in a sauce pan, or put them in a rice cooker under "quick cook."

Serve with either a little Agave, Maple Syrop, or Stevia, and fresh fruit/beries if available.

Really great  as a break from steel cut oats and very healthy!!

dreaming

Pancakes: 1/2 cup cooked Quinua[ always cook only with water,salt makes ir sour],2 whipped eggs,1 1/2 C. milk,4 grams. sugar[ or whatever you use] butter as needed , fry, serve with syrup, just cinnamon sugar or rolled with fruit inside.

SOUP Use consomme,add carrots,peas,onions[cut] a bit of cumin,black ,pepper,garlic,oregano,parsley, potatoes,cut small, beef for stew,1/2 cup of washed quinua, let it simmer and when cooked serve. Enjoy!

Also you can make bread, etc,etc,

Sunshine99

Just had some for dinner - ate mine with salsa, but then I'll put salsa on almost anything!

I have a friend who cooks hers in vegetable broth instead of water (she's a vegetarian), but you could also use chicken broth.

thenewme

Several other recent posts reminded me of this old thread, so I thought I'd update this to thank Lindasa for sending me to epicurious.com  for quinoa recipes! 

I've tried several recipes and love quinoa in practically everything.

Black Bean and Tomato Quinoa is one of my favorites.  Even my hardcore-carnivorous hubby eats it, LOL!

Who else has some good quinoa recipes/ideas to share?

CorinneM1

I have been eating a quinoa, cranberry and mint side salad at work for the past few months.  I haven't made it at home yet, but found what I believe to be similar recipe online:

Ingredients:
1 cup Quinoa (pre rinsed)
1 cup orange juice
1 cup water
2/3 cup red onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup organic dried cranberries
1/2 cup celery, finely sliced
1/4 cup parsley, chopped fine
1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped fine
1/2 lemon, zest of and juice of
1/3 cup walnuts, quickly chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Combine the orange juice, water and quinoa in a med/large pot. Bring to boil over high heat. Stir once, cover and reduce heat to simmer and cover. Cook for about 15 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the quinoa has expanded to little swirls. stir, and set aside to cool.

2. Once the quinoa is cooled, add the celery, parsley, mint, red onion, lemon zest and juice, cranberries and walnuts. stir well to combine. add the olive oil and salt and pepper and stir again. refrigerates nicely for a couple of days.

thenewme

Oh, yum!!  Thanks for sharing - that definitely sounds like one I'll have to try!  For whatever reason, most of the things I use quinoa for are served hot, as more of a "heavy-ish" main dish, so this sounds like a great option for cooler, lighter summertime fare!  Thanks again!

crazy4carrots

If you like tabbouleh, you can replace the bulgur wheat with quinoa!

I just purchased "Quinoa 365 - The Everyday Superfood".  Anxious to try some new recipes! 

Nordy

Trader Joes has a delicious recipe for roasted corn, avocado and tomato quinoa salad. My family eats it like dip with tortilla chips, but I like it as a salad! I will have to retrieve the recipe for you!

Nordy

http://randa4health.com/?p=844

peggy_j

I've heard that, in theory, you can substitute cooked quinoa for cooked couscous, so if you have a favorite couscous recipe, you can up the protein by using quinoa.

sanbar8771

thenewme...I put a can of organic stewed tomatoes. 1 can of organic black beans. Fresh herbs, garlic then let simmer (like rice). I then put salsa on top. It tastes like an enchalade without the meat and cheese. Very healthy and tasty.

thenewme

Tabbouleh, bulgar, and couscous, oh my!  I've lived such a sheltered life with plain ole white flour, white minute rice, etc!  I'm definitely broadening my culinary horizons, heehee!

Lindasa - the cookbook sounds awesome! I'd love to hear your review.  I always hate buying cookbooks and being disappointed, but I have a few favorites that are falling apart at the seams! One of my favorites is "Wholly Frijoles" - all bean recipes!  It's surprising the goodies in there!

Nordy and Sanbar - yum!  Those sound really good too!  Thanks for sharing!

Peggy_j- I haven't had couscous yet.  Do you have a favorite recipe you'd recommend?

peggy_j

thenewme, my fav couscous recipe is the one in the Alice Silverstone cookbook. (found in my library. maybe yours?). It has roasted veggies--zukes, squash, onions, carrots + some spices like saffron. It's vegan. FWIW, I think couscous is nutritionally OK but not a protein powerhouse like quinoa. (my nutritionist said that quinoa is one of only two plants that are a "complete protein." the other is soy. dang, can't eat that now!)