How Do People Not Know About Quinoa?

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How Do People Not Know About Quinoa?


Today I had a co-worker try out my quinoa salad.  He's way into fitness and nutrition and had never heard of it!  So, I am doing my duty and sharing with the blog-o-sphere how much I love quinoa.  Click on the picture to go find it on Amazon.  

There are three major things that I love about quinoa.

1.  High quality protein with the nine essential amino acids
2.  Gluten Free
3.  Takes on the flavor of whatever spices you mix with it

There ya go!  It's sort of like the tofu of the seed/grain world.  In fact, it is classified more as a seed than a grain.  You can cook it, sprout it, make rejuvelac out of it.  Woah, nelly - now I am getting all crunchy on you.  

How to Cook Quinoa


Ingredients
1 cup quinoa (any variety — white or golden, red, or black) 
2 cups liquid, such as broth or water
1/4 teaspoon salt


Tools
Fine mesh strainer
2-quart saucepan with lid
Spoon

1. Measure quinoa and liquid. Measure out 1 cup quinoa and 2 cups liquid.
2. Rinse the quinoa. Place the quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer, and rinse thoroughly with cool water. Rub and swish the quinoa with your hand while rinsing, and rinse for at least 2 minutes under the running water. Drain.
Why rinse quinoa? Rinsing removes quinoa's natural coating, called saponin, which can make it taste bitter or soapy. Although boxed quinoa is often pre-rinsed, it doesn't hurt to give the seeds an additional rinse at home. Some cookbooks suggest soaking the quinoa but, in our experience, this is unnecessary.

3. Add liquid and bring to a boil. Stir in the liquid and the salt (if using) and bring to a rolling boil.
4. Lower heat and cook covered for 15 minutes. Turn heat down to the lowest setting. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
5. Let stand covered for 5 minutes. After 15 minutes, turn off the heat and remove the pot from the burner. Let stand for 5 minutes, covered.
6. Fluff and eat! After 5 minutes, remove the lid, fluff the quinoa gently with a fork, and serve. (You should see tiny spirals (the germ) separating from and curling around the quinoa seeds.)


How to Sprout Quinoa


Makes about 2 cups sprouted quinoa
Supplies:
1 quart mason jar
Sprouting lid or mesh screen 


Ingredients:
1-1.5 cups quinoa
about 3 cups filtered water


1. First, rinse quinoa thoroughly. Put quinoa into a 1 quart mason jar and fill the jar to the top with filtered water. Let quinoa soak for about 6 hours. Sometimes, I set mine up before I go to bed and soak overnight.

2. After it has soaked pour off the water, you can put the sprouting lid on the jar and use it as a strainer as well. Fill the jar with more water to rinse the quinoa, then pour it out and set the jar with sprouting lid on upside down on a bowl or container to catch excess dripping water.

3. About every 6 hours, rinse with water, pour out and put upside down over bowl. I try to just rinse it when I remember and when I get a chance. The rinse times don’t need to be too exact just make sure that it’s not sitting for too long without being rinsed.

4. It will take about 1-2 days for sprouts to form. You will see little thread-like sprouts coming from the grains. Once it’s done store quinoa in the fridge and use within a few days.

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