Knowing Quinoa better – Eating healthy!

El Olivo's Organic quinoa varients- Red,white & black

A complete protein and fantastic wheat-free alternative, the demand for quinoa has risen sharply in recent years. Who would not want to reap the benefits of this amazing super food?

A few tips to help you cook your super grain better

The first mistake people make is thinking that quinoa is a grain. It’s actually the seed of a grain-like crop closely related to beets. Maybe this isn’t a “cooking tip” – but you should always know what you’re eating.

Quinoa grows with a bitter, protective coating called saponin that needs to be rinsed away- if you don’t do it, it’s going to taste wrong. And when you rinse it, use a fine-mesh strainer. You don’t want those tiny seeds to disappear down the drain! Once you have rinsed it well, it can be cooked like rice. It will expand to several times the original size during cooking. 

Toasting quinoa in a skillet with a little bit of oil over low heat for a few minutes before adding it to boiling water gives quinoa an even more intense nutty flavor.

Quinoa holds lots of water, so you have to make sure you drain it thoroughly after it’s cooked. Otherwise, it will make your whole dish watery. And don’t forget to use that fine-mesh strainer again!

After it has cooked, use a fork to fluff and separate the grains.

Now that you know how to cook your grain well, here’s what all benefits you can reap from this super grain.

Quinoa contains almost twice as much fiber as most other grains.

Quinoa is one of the most protein rich foods we can eat.

Quinoa contains iron, is rich in magnesium and contains lysine.

Quinoa contains high content of manganese and is high in riboflavin.

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