 |
| Photo Credit: The Studio (MDR) |
In the past several months, I had been continuously coming across articles, recipes and talk about an ingredient that I knew very little about, Quinoa. As a fairly strict follower of a healthy and natural diet (although I am guilty of an unsurpassable love for skittles, ginger ale and an ice cold beer!), I was quite intrigued to see what this little seed was all about.
Quinoa originates from South America, mainly Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador and has been harvested for thousands of centuries. It was considered to have been the food staple for the ancient Inca tribes. Quinoa has since gained popularity in modern society for its light and fluffy texture, nutty taste and high nutritional value. The most readily available type of Quinoa is white quinoa, but other varieties exist including red and black quinoa.
What I have discovered about Quinoa, is that although it is often considered a grain, it is actually a relative to spinach! It is also great for those living a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle because it is a complete protein. Quinoa is high in many essential nutrients including fiber, magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, vitamin E, phosphorus, folic acid and beta carotene. It is also gluten-free, making it a safe alternative for sufferers of Celiac Disease.
Quinoa can be served hot or cold and is usually served as the starch to a meal, but because it is a complete protein it can be used in lieu of meat as well.
Here are a couple of my favorite quinoa recipes for every meal of the day!
 |
| Photo Credit: how sweet it is |
Spring Herb Quinoa Patties - Great replacement for burgers or on top of a spinach salad
Lemon Grilled Chicken with Mediterranean Toasted Quinoa - Great Side Dish!
Thai Fried Quinoa - Healthier alternative to fried rice.
 |
| Photo Credit: Iowa Girl Eats |
Your article is awesome! I started eating vegetarian a couple months ago and so many recipes I try now have Quinoa. It is amazing how selective the North American diet is that the newest healthy fad food is a food that has been around since the ancient Inca Tribes.
ReplyDeleteI knew very little about it, and never would have guessed that it is a relative to spinach.
I definitely think I will try the Quinoa patties soon.
Your article is great and very useful! I love quinoa so I am looking forward to trying out the recipes for a variety and different alternatives, especially the coconut milk breakfast quinoa. Even though I enjoy to eat quinoa I didn't know a lot about it so I found reading your blog very useful!
ReplyDelete