Thanks for stopping by Cooking Quinoa! If you would like to learn how to cook quinoa perfectly, you have come to the right place!
If you are looking for recipes, start here: quinoa recipes.
I am committed to providing you with all of the information you need so that you can enjoy cooking quinoa as much as I do!
But first – what is quinoa and why are so many people cooking quinoa these days?
Quinoa Nutrition – Why Adding Quinoa Recipes to Your Diet Makes Sense!
If quinoa is new to you, you may be wondering what all of the fuss is about. Why does Self magazine consider quinoa amongst the top foods that runners should consider including in their diets? Why does Oxygen magazine say that if you want flat abs, you should make sure that quinoa is a regular in your meal plans?
It turns out that this tiny seed is actually a nutritional powerhouse! This super food is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Specifically, it is a great source of folate, iron, magnesium and zinc. The fact that it has magnesium, copper and phosphorous means that quinoa is especially good for those that have migraine headaches, atherosclerosis and diabetes. When it comes to fueling up for exercise or dropping a few pounds, cooking quinoa really makes sense. This is thanks to the fact that one cup of cooked quinoa has just 220 calories. Quinoa is a great source of healthy carbohydrates, and also provides 5 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein per serving.
The protein in quinoa is of particular interest. Quinoa may just be the perfect food for vegetarians because it is one of the few non-meat foods that provide all eight of the essential amino acids that our bodies need to repair themselves. Unlike grains, quinoa is a great source of lysine which plays a critical role in cellular repair. Just by making quinoa recipes a regular part of your diet, you just may be able to improve your health!
My Story
Quinoa Recipes
…..Discovered
Why I write about
Quinoa Recipes
If you are like me, eating healthy has not always come easy to you. I must confess that when I was growing up, it was much easier to find a package of Ding-Dongs in the house than it was to find something healthy. I was raised on every kind of processed junk food you can imagine – cokes, chips, Little Debbie’s – you name it! I shudder to think of just how much Cheese-Whiz I actually consumed as a child.
Little did I know that the convenience foods that my parents loved so much were actually loaded with harmful preservatives! In a time before organics, chances are that even the fruit was loaded with pesticides. The truth is that very little of what I ate back then actually provided my body with any nutrition at all.
Still, my weight stayed in a reasonable range. I was never the skinniest girl on the block, but I wasn’t overweight either. And then I got older – It’s funny how everything changes after 30.
My boys were born just 14 months apart. After the birth of my second son, I knew I had to do something. So I did what every reasonable person would do. Went on a fad-diet (low-carb) and lost 36 pounds in 6 weeks. My diet consisted of blue cheese burgers and lots of meat loaded with creamy sauces. Nothing was healthy and there was not a carbohydrate to be found!
And, of course, I eventually gained it all back and more.
The problem, while I certainly value protein in my diet, the reality is that I couldn’t care less if I ever ate meat again. I just really don’t enjoy it and because of this, eating low carb just isn’t sustainable for me. (Plus being without my carbohydrates makes me cranky!)
It wasn’t until a few years later that I ran across Tosca Reno and her Eat Clean Diet
and Eat Clean Diet Cookbook. This is where I first heard of this nutritious seed called quinoa.
I was skeptical at first, but I’m pretty adventurous, so I decided to give it a try. My first quinoa recipe was the Quinoa with Sundried Tomatoes recipe in the Eat Clean Diet Cookbook. I was hooked, and even better so were my fussy preschoolers and carnivore husband! Since that time, I have tried dozens of different quinoa recipes from quinoa salad to quinoa meatballs! (And most recently in writing my upcoming cookbook, I’ve even perfected a quinoa pizza dough and Quinoa Cannelloni!) I am looking forward to sharing my favorite quinoa recipes with you!
Quinoa is a great part of a clean eating lifestyle, and can be adapted to suit just about anyone’s taste! Whether you are looking to drop a few pounds or are an athlete trying to improve your nutrition, you can’t go wrong with cooking quinoa. Since I’ve added quinoa to my diet and adopted clean eating in my lifestyle, I have dropped a little over 20 pounds. I still have a ways to go, but I find that the more often I reach for quinoa recipes the faster my progress. I hope you will join me on my slow and steady journey to health! I will be sure to share my favorite quinoa cooking tips with you!
I will also share other great recipes with you with a focus on those that are healthy. (But I must admit that I do still indulge at times – if something is really great I cannot promise I won’t share!!!) After all, quinoa is AMAZING but a girl (or guy) needs some variety in their life! Look for my favorite hummus recipe, black bean recipes, stir fry recipes and my husbands favorite steak recipes.
When I first started this site, I was following a “reduced meat” diet was trying to trend my family out of eating so much meat. I started reading Vegetarian Times 
“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
and my personal favorite:
“Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food”
{ 218 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, I have a new love…….first tried quinoa mixed in with different rice, last night tried it alone, and all I can say is wow.
It is amazing, Can't wait to try other recipes. Thanks Wendy
Cara,
You are certainly welcome. It makes me so happy that I can share my love of quinoa!
Wendy, I have a recipe to share with you. Look at http://www.food52.com, find "Red Quinoa, Red Lentils — A Salad" in the recipe search. Hope you like it!
Hi Wendy,
Please clear up some confusion for me. You list the calorie count of one cup of quinoa as 220, however, I'm seeing it listed elsewhere as 681 for one cup! Why is there such a big discrepancy? Also, I'd like to know the fat content of one cup. I absolutely love quinoa and can't see myself eating just a quarter cup of it…ever. Thanks for your help.
Great question! It is actually on my to-do list to edit the post where it is listed at 681 calories. A cup of UNCOOKED quinoa is between 620- 680 calories. (The calorie content varies depending on where it is grown and how it is handled) A cup of COOKED quinoa is around 220 calories with 3.5 grams of fat. There is no saturated fat, no trans fats and no cholesterol. The fatty acid composition is high in linolenic and linolenic acid.
I suspect the high calorie counts you see are for dry quinoa and the lower counts are for prepared quinoa. One cup of dry quinoa will have about 3x as many calories as one cup of quinoa prepared with a 2:1 water to quinoa ratio.
It looks like 1 cup of cooked quinoa is 220 calories, listed here. http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/cereal-grains…
While 1 cup of uncooked is closer to 681 calories, listed here. http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-quinoa-i20…
Thanks for all your kind responses!
Wendy, I am a fellow entrepreneur like you are and am looking to start a whole foods site similar to yours but in a different food category. Could you give me some advice of do's and dont's? Is your site profitable and are you making enough money to make it worth your time? Could you disclose about how much if it's not to personal or a price range that I could expect? I know you are probably very busy but if you could take the time to answer some of my questions I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,
Zoey
I'm looking forward to trying some new quinoa recipes and adding a little variety to our meal times. My family has numerous food allergies, and variety is often hard to come by. I'll have to make some adjustments to the recipes, but I'm excited to have some great recipes to start with. Thanks!
P.S. If you have any dairy, egg, corn, nut, citric-acid and seafood-free recipes, send them my way!
Ate my first bite of Quinoa as I read this article. Just added a smidge of olive oil and sea salt…mmmm…can't wait to try your recipes. So nice of you to share. Hummus and black beans are some of my favorites too…I think we have similar taste buds! We definitely come from the same generation; my sister and I even named the other rolled snack cake next to Little Debbie—she was Little Linda. Thanks for your website…I will check out clean eating too.
Lisa, Thanks for stopping by! Little Linda….so funny. Yep, I'm I child of the 70's and 80's… I'll be 40 this year….yikes! I hope you enjoy the quinoa and stop by again soon!
I really do like receiving your recipes ! I love quinoa….but am the only one in my family that embraces the taste!! However, I find that your recipes do require a lot of ingredients, and quite a fair bit of prep time. Could you perhaps include some ideas for the working gal, that does not have a lot of time to put food on the table after work..
appreciate you!
regards,
Kathie
Kathie,
That is a great point. Look for some more easy quinoa recipes in the coming weeks!
I seem to be getting your newsletter, but no cookbook. Is it a download?
Yes, it is a download. I'm emailing you the link!
Dear Wendy,
I was on your website a few weeks ago and you had a link to a page about cooking red quinoa perfectly, something involving boiling and then steaming in a colander with a towel under the lid. I loved the result and I'd like to make it again, as I just bought some more red quinoa. I can't find that page. Help?
Valerie, Check out the most recent two posts. ( Not the cake) I used that method there….
Hi Wendi,
Found your website yesterday and love it! I have been in love with quinoa for a while and try to tell all my friends about it! Fortunately, it is now getting a lot more press and some great info and recipes from you!!
I signed up for the newsletters yesterday but when I went to print your ebook I found out that my printer was out of ink! I just tried to print again with no luck and tried to resubscribe to get back to the download but no luck there either. Can you tell me how I can download and print your ebook? I saw some REALLY tasty recipes I would like to try.
Thanks for any help you can give.
Connie
Connie, I emailed you the download link but let me know if you have any issues. Tha is for stopping by. Wendy
I made my first quinoa dish tonight. I was delicious!! The receipe came from the latest Prevention magainze. It was called Quinoa risotto with carrots and sugar snap peas. YUM!
Hi
I fell in love with quinoa from this site and had been cooking via stove and not doing well, so i purchased the recommended steamer (the stainless one for $150). I can't figure out how to cook quinoa in it. I am very embarrassed to admit this. It is all preprogrammed and I can't figure out what to do. Can you help?
Kate – If its the one I have I soak the quinoa and use the white rice setting. Let me know if you need more help.
Can you put quinoa directly into soups and other recipes without cooking first. I want to add to soup in the slow cooker and let it cook the day?
Yes you can. I would soak the quinoa first. You can do this the night before and then drain and keep in the fridge overnight.
Hi, Wendy, I found your site by goggling Quinoa. Having been a vegetarian for 16 years, my daughter and I have now decided to eat within 100 miles, organic, whole foods as much as possible. We just bought our quinoa and looking for ways to fix it. We love trying new things. Thanks for a great site.
Hi Jeanne! I am glad you found me! I have been a vegetarian since last fall! After years of giving into the idea that I "needed" meat to be healthy I finally decided to be true to myself and haven't looked back! I also try to eat organic whole foods when I can. I'm actually just in the process of working on a website dedicated to organic living!
I am curious what the beifits are to the different types/colors of quinoa? I am rather a newbie with quinoa, but I'm enoying it so far…
)
I am very new at this. in fact I just cooked my first batch of quinoa and am now eating it. I really like it, but I think I missed something along the way. I soaked it, and rinsed it, I brought it to a boil, then covered it, turned it down and let it simmer for about an hour. After all of this, it still seems a little tough, and is still dark reddish brown, not brown-rice colored like I see in the pictures. Can anybody help this rookie?
Jamie – What type of quinoa were you cooking – cream, red or black? How much liquid did you use? The only time I have had it take an hour for quinoa to cook was when the quinoa I had was too old and dried out.
I just signed up for your newsletter and am downloading your cookbook. I am Soooo excited!!!!
I hope you enjoy!
I was first introduced to quinoa while living in Bolivia. We were living in a high altitude city and my family although eating a lot was losing weight. Bolivian friends introduced me to quinoa and it really helped. I could buy it there in a puffed form and added it to granola. My dad is now suffering weight loss from chemo and I am trying to add protein to his diet. The quinoa I see in the stores here in the US is smaller white balls that haven't been cooked. Any ideas on how I could prepare it to add to granola?
Honestly other than toasting it I have no idea. I will try to do a little digging for you and see what I can come up with.
Becky can use quinoa flakes.
Thanks!Sent from my iPhone
I love this site Wendy! Quinoa is such a great food… super healthy and my kids like it too. You must have a blast concocting all of these wonderful recipes.
Thanks for creating such a thorough resource for all of us quinoa fans.
Miri
Miri! Thanks for stopping by! My kids love quinoa too – have you tried making baby food with it? (In all your free time between four kids and your business
) I didn't know about it when my boys were babies but I hear it is amazing!
I am so excited to see you started your new site! I love your writing and can't wait to hear more! Let me know how it goes!
Hmm, baby food… sounds like fun, and we're almost holding by starting solids (at least according to the books, I always start later). How do you make it? Do you grind it up before you cook it, or blend it once it's made?
I'm so glad you liked my blog, and as you know, you definitely get a lot of credit for helping me get it up!
I did too (start late). I have never made it but there is a chapter on it in the Quinoa 365 cookbook. Maybe we could work on some adaptations when you start solids.
You are certainly welcome for anything I did to help – people ask me to look at there sites all the time and I would not say that I enjoyed your writing if it wasn't true. I've actually been thinking of starting a true blog myself. Of course, I also want to start another recipe site.
I would like to try quinoa with a little honey, cinnomon, and milk and eat it like oatmeal. Growing up we ate "oatmeal" that was some kind of grain, I'm not sure which, but quinoa reminded me of the flavor. Has anyone tried this? Great way to get a protein filled breakfast!
Yes! Quinoa breakfast recipes are awesome and I eat it like that all the time!
I just discovered quinoa. It's my new found friend. I cooked up quinoa, steamed up vegetables in the bag, put it all together with greek olives and feta cheese, onion, garlic and
a little olive oil and it was out of this world.
Now every time I want to eat, instead of the chips, quinoa, here I come.
Thank yu so much for your web site.
Sandy
Sandy – You are so welcome. I felt the exact same way when I first tried quinoa!
Cooking some for dinner tonight. Thanks!
Iwould like to know how to cook for one persson
I have been very sick lately anf I am unable to eat very little and someone told me to try quonia they said that it is very good for you. So please let me know more about it. Ann.
Sure Anne – what can I help you with? As far as cooking for one I would half the recipe and that way you still have enough for leftovers.
I was wondering how long cooked quinoa will last in the fridge?
I know you can freeze it cooked and that will last up to a month, but not sure about how long in the fridge it will last.
I eat this all the time and love it!
Quinoa will last for a week in the fridge. I like to cook some once a week to have on hand for quick meals.
Your site is beautiful. Glad I found it on Mom Bloggers. Hope you will like my site, though it doesn't have your beautiful colors; the photos, the banner, everything comes through great.
Regards, Paula at http://www.babysmartees.blogspot.com
Hi Paula! Thanks for the compliment and thanks for stopping by. I LOVE the concept behind your site. I was really into infant stimulation when my boys were little – it really paid off for us. My oldest is in Kindergarten in years and we are homeschooling on 3rd/4th grade in everything but handwriting. Maybe it has nothing to do with all the things we did, but I think it did.
hi, wendy. thanks for the info on quinoa. one question. if a recipe asks for 2 cups cooked quinoa, how much dry should i use. in other words, how much does quinoa expand during cooking? i haven't been able to find an answer to this question. forgive me if it has already been answered.
For two cups of cooked quinoa you want to use 2/3 cups of dry quinoa.
Dry Quinoa = Cooked (approx) (Taken from Quinoa 365)
1/3 cup =1 cup
1/2 cup = 1 1/2 cups
2/3 cup = 2 cups
1 cup = 3 cups
Hi
My first time visiting your blog, the word "quinoa" in you blog title caught my attention. I love quinoa and make it regularly. Looking for new ways to use it. A few years back in college I actually made a quinoa pasta for a food science experiment it tasted pretty good!
Lisa – Thanks for stopping by! I checked your site out too and really like it! Have you tried feeding your son quinoa flakes? I didn't know about quinoa when my boys were babies (they are almost 5 and 6 now) but I hear it makes great high protein cereal. I've had some recipe requests but am a little afraid to try to create recipes without a tester
Somehow I don't think my boys are going to volunteer for the job. 
Thanks Wendy for stopping buy. Actually, yesterday we call a call from my 15 month old's allergist and he said my little guys blood work came back positive with celiac panel test. I made appts for the rest of the family to get tested, gluten sensitivity runs on my side of the family…ughh!
I do have quinoa flakes and it doesn't taste too bad. It's hidden somewhere in the back of my pantry! Time to get it out and experiment!
Oh no! Unfortunately it is coming more and more common. I've been reading a lot lately about why this is – some people think its because our food it too "clean "(i.e. chemicals in water, pasteurized milk, chemicals in soil, antibotics in meat) while others think that it is evolutionary. Of course, genetics probably plays a role too. I am actually writing up a review right now on a book I had the chance to check out at a friends house. It is about raising kids gluten free.
I've used quinoa flakes in smoothies and it was really good. Other than that I must admit that I don't have much experience. I just bought some for baking, but haven't gotten around to trying it yet. The Quinoa 365: The Everyday Superfood<img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpwwwfin075-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1552859940" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> cookbook does have a section on baby food. By the 12 to 18 month recipes they are actually using cooked quinoa, so you might experiment with that as well. I've used cooked quinoa in soups and it does puree well – although not such an issue for a 15 month old.
By the way – LOVE your Mac N Cheese post. It is crazy what they put in kids food these days….
I recently purchased quinoa from a local health food store. I was very excited to try it, but was disappointed with the results. I rinsed and cooked per instructions, but when eating the finished product, it seemed to be full of sand-like particles that made my teeth feel as if they would break if I bit down on another one. Can anyone enlighten me?
Becky – Most definitely something was wrong. My guess is that the quinoa was old. It should be light and fluffy with a hint of firm nuttiness. There should definitely be NOTHING sandy about it. This can happen some times with local health food stores because they don't sell enough and the quinoa sits on the shelf for a long period of time. While it does not go rancid it dries out and looses its ability to absorb the cooking liquid as it should. When quinoa is done cooking, you should start to see little seed tails come out.
Just to clarify – you cooked it on the stove top and didn't try baking it, right? Baked quinoa has a definite crunch to it although I wouldn't call it sandy.
Hi, I am really interested in Quinoa and some recipes. I signed up for your newsletter and was told that I would get a free cookbook to download. I have tried this twice now and don't know where the downloads are going. I hope I don't have to access my e-mail every time I want to look up a recipe. I was hoping to get this book downloaded to my desktop. I am using a Mac Book Pro. Can you help me?? Thanks!
Sandy – I've emailed you!
I've just discovered quinoa this week! (Actually last week). My first time to cook it was golden…practically perfect. Now, I'm hooked. Since I am gluten-sensitive (maybe completely intolerant), finding a grain as tasty and wholesome as quinoa is such a boon. Believe it or not, it's great added to an omlette. I've eaten quinoa omlettes for seven days straight and still craving it. Thank you for posting information about this intriguing food. CB
Cassandra – I was the same way when I first found quinoa – totally hooked! I love it added to eggs too! I am not nuts about eggs but since I stopped eating meat I try to eat them to get protein – quinoa makes it so much easier!
If I can resolve my problem with the sandy particles, I want to try it in place of rice in sushi…
Has anyone tried a Kinibar yet? An all natural, gluten free, vegan energy bar made from Quinoa. They taste great!
Pat – I haven't but I would love to. I put kinibar into amazon and I get this:
KIND PLUS, Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants, Nutritional Boost, Gluten Free Bars (Pack of 12)
If this isn't it can you share what it is and where we would get it?
Wendy email me when you have time. They are due out Spring 2011. I have some information for your, my Vice President decided to let the cat out of the bag. He must have gotten excited.
I saw a link to your blog on another site – I look forward to getting more quinoa recipes
My fav way to eat it is a sort of greek/mediterranean salad mix. I cut up tons of veggies (halved grape tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, yellow squash, zucchini, shredded carrots (I'll get the bagged ones that are a little thicker). I'll even add blanched broccoli and cauliflower if I'm in the mood. I cook the quinoa a little "al dente", then pour a bottle of my fav balsamic vinaigrette over it, and let it cool (do it while it's hot, so it'll absorb the dressing).
Once the quinoa is cooled, dump in the veggies, add more vinaigrette if needed (it depends on how much you cooked in the first place), the juice of a lemon (more or less to taste but I like mine tart), the zest of the lemon, and some feta cheese crumbles. I also add fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, oregano and a little mint) but you can use dried or omit if your vinaigrette has enough flavor. I always have fresh herbs on hand, and use them in just about everything.
I serve this over fresh spinach or mixed lettuce. It's also great with some grilled fish or chicken, or even with a burger or sandwhich as a sort of pasta salad substitute. I prefer a ratio of veggies to quinoa of about half and half (by volume). You might want less veggies though.
It's great for parties or potlucks, and there's no worries about it spoiling if you leave it out. Also, I like it better the next day, because the veggies soften slightly from all the acid.
hi,
thanks for all these wonderful information on quinoa nutrition. i have also just recently found out about this superfood and i am now an avid quinoa eater. it is truly healthy, flexible and easy to prepare. i usually eat it with veggies or chicken. i should try fish though. please keep us posted! :0)
Thanks for following my new blog on the Wed. Winter Friends Blog Hop. Returned the favor. I agree Quinoa is good stuff–love your site! As you can see from the recipes on my blog I love cooking, too! Please drop by again and visit! Everyone is invited to tag along and say "hi!" I always follow back.
Mary B. (Nuts 4 Stuff)
Nuts4 Stuff
http://nuts4stuff.blogspot.com/
Your recipes sound amazing! Now following you from wednesday blog hop. Come follow me when you get a chance.
following back
Never heard of Quinoa and can't wait to learn more!
Hi! Thank you for visiting my site…Hope to hear more from you .soon
Thank you so much Wendy for your kind words. I am very passionate about my blog and our childrens book series that we have coming out in the next 2 months.
Like you I am working on my weight right now and learning to eat healthier and so will visit your blog often for extra tips.
Dawn
Dawn,
Make sure you let me know when your books come out. I am very passionate about children and reading. One of my life goals was to teach both of my boys to read at a very early age and it was something that happened – they both were reading by 2. Every day I am amazed at the power they have over their own world because they can read so well. I wouldn't trade that for anything and I know many children are not that lucky.
I sure will let you know about the books. We will release the first on in a bout 2 months maybe a tad sooner. I simply adore it and am in love with the charactures and the story line and cant wait to share it with others.
I will post any updates on our blog site as I get them.
Again thank you for your kind words.
You are very lucky to have your boys home with you. As a mommy of two as well one 17 year old boy and a 12 girl I hate being away from them still.
I do feel so lucky to be able to have them with me. Fortunately, being able to make money online has made it possible. I was very lucky to learn how to make money with internet marketing early on and that has given me the ability to create a full time income in less than a year while still having the time to home school.
Looking forward to your books!
hey there I found your blog via search for quinoa recipes…I just started eating quinoa recently …but I learned about it in my vegetarian class…a couple of years ago…
I'm vegetarian and learned so much in that class..it actually was a bit scary of how blind meat-eaters are …its important to be educated when it comes to feeding your body.
I've been vegetarian for 8 years however..and although I learned of this a couple years ago..I've had my fair share of variety…learning..trying new things..its amazing..I love food. I used to be soo picky..but now I can try even more things and your recipes look so delish!
thanks for existing! btw have you ever tried bulgur? I love bulgur…its fantastic ..i'll try sending over my favorite recipes ….take care!
nevermind I noticed you wrote you dont care much for bulgur…thats too bad..anyways thanks for the recipes…I cant wait to try one atleast every week hehe
Leonor – Actually, since I became a vegetarian in the Fall, I have found that I like a lot of things that I did not think I liked so I would love if you would share any recipes.
I agree that many people who eat meat are quite blind to the hormones, chemicals etc that they are being exposed to these days. Things just aren't like they were thousands of years ago. I am currently putting the final touches on a free cookbook that will have some of the best recipes from this site plus a couple that aren't up yet. If you are interested just sign up for my email list.
Love Quinoa and I am so glad I found your blog, I will add it to my bloglist so others can find you. I have many of Tosca Reno's books and I am always looking for new ways to use Quinoa. I just got some Quinoa flour! I can't wait to bake cookies or something so my tot gets some healthy protein.
Thank you for following my blog, Everything Mom and Baby!
Erica – I am so glad you found my site too! Tosca rocks and really changed the way I think and feel about food. Quinoa flour is great – I haven't done a ton of baking yet with it but I love using it as a thickener in soup and in place of regular flour in macaroni and cheese. I also use it to make pancakes. I will be experimenting more in the near future. If you don't already have it Quinoa 365 (I just did a review today) has some great baking recipes.
And, to any or my readers who have a baby or are expecing one, make sure that you check out Erica's fantastic site : http://www.everythingmomandbaby.com/
Wendy,
I've been reading about quinoa and would love to try it. I live in Florida. Where can I buy some and what kind should you start out with. Thank you
Hi Kathy! I am a Florida girl myself. Where are you? I grew up in Gainesville, but have lived in Tallahassee, Orlando, Tampa and Sarasota over the years.
If you have access to a Whole Foods buying in the bulk binds is typically the best place. You can save a TON of money this way, so even if you are a little bit aways it may be worthwhile. Next you could try a small health food store but at times it can actually be cheaper to buy it in bulk online. If you do decide to buy online, you can do so here:
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2 Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref_%3Dnb_sb_noss%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3Dquinoa%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps&tag=httpwwwfin075-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957″ target=”_blank”>Buy Quinoa<img src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpwwwfin075-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />
NOTE: This is an affiliate link and I will receive a commission if you purchase from this link.
hi, your site is awesome! i am wondering what the calorie intake is per serving
Thanks Victoria! One cup of cooked quinoa has 220 calories, 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber.
As a vegan, I am all for quinoa, I have not tasted it yet but I know I will be eating it regularly. some of the recipes I seein this log include oil. No matter what type of oil you are talking about, just keep in mind that it is all fat, and not, it does not enhance flavor, it hides it. Cheese is another bad item, remember it comes from milk and milk comes from cows. All milk products will slow down the flow of blood in the veins. It is actually not the fat doing this, it is the animal protein which cannot be removed from any of the animal products.
Frank,
I certainly respect vegans but I am not one, nor do I ever see myself becoming one. For me, there are too many benefits in dairy products for me to ever give them up. For one, I am highly prone to anemia and including them in my diet is the only way I can maintain a vegetarian diet without turning into one big bruise and developing low levels of B12. As a women, I also appreciate the calcium. We could debate the pros and cons of consuming dairy (in moderation of course) all day long, but in the end it boils down to personal choice. I am very comfortable with mine to include a little bit of cheese in my diet and will continue to include it in my recipes just as I will continue to offer vegan recipes from time to time. As for the oil, I think you are being a bit harsh to say that all oils are bad. Again, moderation is key. Our bodies NEED healthy fats to function properly. Yes, it would be nice if we could cook in EFAs instead of olive oil, but we all know that flax seed oil doesn't hold up well to heat. For me, I try to use spray olive oil when I can, but I will take a little olive oil over the chemicals in non-stick cookware all day long. Where I am focusing on cutting back is in things like salad dressings. I've been experimenting with using a mixture of chia seeds soaked in water and flax oil in place of olive oil in my balsamic vinaigrette and am very pleased with the results.
I've been cooking up quinoa for a while, especially making veggie stirfry dishes with zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms, tomatoes, and snap peas. I wanted something to replace my oatmeal in the morning for a change and stumbled across a great recipe for apple cinnamon quinoa. Upon searching further, I found your breakfast recipes! The quinoa berry crunch looks so tasty.
We used your method to cook quinoa tonight. It came out fluffy with a great flavor. We've always liked quinoa and like it even more with your method. We mixed it with finely chopped parsley and cucumbers, olive oil and vinegar as a type of tabouli. Thank you!
I am so glad it worked great for you! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, congrats on having your blog featured on the Foodie Blogroll! I love the concept of your blog–all about quinoa. I've never cooked it but I am motivated to try now. Thanks for all of the great information. :>)
Lynn, Thanks! I've been traveling and actually missed that it was. What I nice suprise
If you are looking to try quinoa for the first time, I highly recommend the goat cheese risotto or balsamic quinoa salad. Thanks for stopping by!
I am a recently converted vegetarian who has been too afraid to cook quinoa without some guidance! I'm so glad I found your site today!
I'm glad you found it too! I am a new vegetarian as well!
I really like this website! I tried making the quinoa with orange juice instead of water (I was thinking having it for breakfast) but the grains didn't open. Has anybody else tried this? Perhaps I need to use 1/2 water and 1/2 orange juice. Although the grains didn't open, they are cooked and it's actually quite good although I'm not sure if I should eat it (may be hard to digest).
Wendy, I too enjoy Quinoa. I like to saute veggies in olive oil, add some low-sodium chicken broth and then add the Quinoa. Makes a very tasty sidedish. The health benefits from Quinoa are the benefits also.
The Souper
I love to fix quinoa like that as well! Do you have a soup website? I tried to follow the link but there was an error. I have never been the biggest fan of soup, but in the last couple of weeks it has become almost an obsession!
Bob,
This is a great recipe to reference for any nutrition details for almost any food prepared any way. Of course, as Wendy stated, please check with a medical professional/registered dietician to ensure the accuracy of the information. According to the website below, there is a minute amount of the amino acid phenylalanine in quinoa, but whether it's a harmful amount for those with PKU, I have no idea.
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/cereal-grains…
Happy Holidays everyone!
I should've proof-read better – sorry! It's not a recipe, just a reference.
Heather – Thanks for the great info!
Want an awesome, super-fast (using items on hand), filling meal? Try this… grilled chicken breast cut into small cubes + lightly chopped baby spinach + 1 tbsp of coconut oil + pre-cooked quinoa (I always have 3-4 cups ready in the refrigerator) + spices (Mrs. Dash, mediterranean mix, etc). Throw all into a big bowl, microwave for a minute on a light setting, mix, EAT! Wow. P.S. Before you turn your nose up at the mention of coconut oil, it's another super food. Yes, saturated fat, but if that's a problem for you then you need some education: http://www.consumerhealth.org/articles/display.cf…
For those who haven't tried it, coconut oil is great! It gives a nice tropical flavor to your food. There is also some evidence that suggest that it can help control weight. Definitely worth looking into.
Hey, can you send me an email. I wanted to ask your permission for something.
Thanks
Done!
I need low fat low sodium receipes for my son. Do you have any with those restrictions. His sodium in take for the day shoud be no more than 1500mg.
Marie – I do not currently have software that calculates the nutritional content of the recipes, so I wouldn't want to make any recommendations especially with something as important as your son's health. A low sodium cookbook might be a good bet.
Are there any recipes that you would suggest for an athlete in training (that obviously contain quinoa)? I mean… I'm not in good shape, but I need to for tennis season coming up in March… plus I want to play in college if at all possible… and a lot is riding on my losing a bit of weight and gaining a modest amount of muscle. If I were in good shape I would be winning a lot more, to put it simply.
Thanks in advance!
Most of the recipes on the site are fairly healthy. You can always reduce the oil and omit the cheese if you are trying to watch your fat intake. Here are a couple to try:
Clean Eating Quinoa
Fiesta Quinoa Salad
This food looks very interesting. We are vegeterian (trying to go Vegan). We could not pull up your recipts though. Would you please send us Website or whatever so we can get recipts. We saw all the comments from people but could not find the recipts.
Thanks so much,
Minnie Johnson
You can see the recipes here:
Quinoa Recipes
Hi Wendy
I have a friend who has two children who endure a condition kown as Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic disorder that is characterized by an inability of the body to utilize the essential amino acid, phenylalanine.
would quinoa be a suitable food stuff for them to eat? I think the amino acid is refered to as PHe so does quinoa have this one as part of its make up?
hope you can answer my question
thanks
Bob, Without any medical expertise I really can't say. I would hate to give out bad advice and risk the health of children! I think the best thing to do would be to consult a nutritional expert. Sorry that I could not be of more help! Wendy
Bob, in all the info I can find about it, it appears that quinoa contains all of the eight essential amino acids so that would mean to me that quinoa is not a good PKU food. Sorry. I know it is tough finding foods that PKU patients is difficult. My son has a genetic disorder that prevents him from utilizing most fats.
How does this quinoa fit into a diabetic diet. Sounds it would open doors to more dishes. Are there carbs in it?
Bill, I am not a health professional, so your best bet is to talk to your doctor. However, I was able to find a bit about quinoa and diabetes here:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbid=142&tname…
I commend u Wendy. Remember, animal fat turns into GALL STONES so, maybe include an OLIVE OIL CLEANSE in ur writings. Research that OLIVE OIL CLEANSE @ Simply Wholesome. I like the fact that ur writing comes from experience. Please respond if you maybe c0nsider my advice.
I would definitely be interested in learning more. I cannot tell you how much better I feel now that I am a vegetarian!
I have just found your website, I want to try this quinoa out as I don't eat very much meat anymore. I do have a question for you. You mentioned in one of your posts, that if the quinoa is old or stale it won't open up..? not sure what that means since i have never tried it, however, how this applies to my question… can quinoa be stored as part of food storage? if so, how long can it be stored and what is the best way to package it for the best shelf life. (as an option, I do have access to sealing it in a vaccume packed can)
I look forward to tying your Vanilla Quinoa Pudding!
Alice – Quinoa will last a year if it is stored in a cool environment and sealed. Just make sure you are storing quinoa that is fresh to start with. Most that you buy in stores is just fine. The only time I have had an issue was when I bought it from the bulk bins of a smaller store where it had probably been sitting for a while.
I just started adding quinoa to my meal plans as my boyfriend and I are also trying to go meatless several times a week. Some of these recipes sound delicious and I can't wait to try them. I made this for luch a few days ago(even though it's not vegetarian):
I mixed a can of tuna with about 1 cup of cooked quinoa and minced red onion and tossed it with dressing made from a couple teaspoons of olive oil, dijon mustard and lemon juice. I put this mixture on top of mixed greens, arugula and grape tomatoes. I might add some kind of fruit to the salad next time but it was yummy this way.
Hi Corrie! Thanks for sharing that great recipe! If you look around the site, you will notice that I have a lot of non-vegetarian recipes too! I am a vegetarian now, but that is actually a new thing for me. (As in, just a couple of months!) Many of our readers are not and I certainly appreciate ALL kinds of quinoa recipes for people to try. Yours sounds yummy! I agree that fruit would be nice – maybe apples or mandarin oranges?
Hi Wendy,
Could not remember the ratio of water to quinoa and did a google search and your site came up. It is great and the recipes are great. My intro to quinoa came way back in 1996 when I was on a program to regain my health. Back then it was figure out how to use it, other than just cook and eat!! Love your site, have it bookmarked, and will be trying recipes on a daily basis. There was a recipe you mentioned by title and I was not able to find it! Can you tell me where to find Sweet potato quinoa cakes/patties??
Looking forward to contributing some of the recipes I have gathered over the past 10 year or so.
Jeanne
Tnhillwoman
Jeanne,
You are the first person I've talked to that has been eating quinoa for that long! WOW! I wish I had known about it in the 90's – I probably would not have ever struggled with my weight so. The sweet potato cakes/burgers is a recipe I have had sitting on my computer for a few weeks now. I just haven't put it – or dozens of others – up on the site yet. I will get it up for you this week. Thanks for stopping by!
Fantastisch! What exactly is quinoa in Hindi? I have a bag of a similarly red colored cereal and the label says Ragi, which is millet in English….
I'm not sure, but maybe one of our readers knows….
I just came across your website and I'm really glad I did! I've been dabbling with quinoa for the past few weeks and have been trying some great breakfast recipes, but am looking to make it a daily addition to my life and so am searching for some tasty dinner recipes to try. I have a few pounds to lose but ultimately the goal is to live a healthier life. I look forward to trying some of your recommended recipes!!
Paula – Thanks for stopping by! I have some weight to lose too so make sure you check back – I am looking for ways to add nutritional content and at the very least I am working on my own weight loss plan that I will be sharing on the site.
what a great blog! here is so many inspirations!
have a nice time,
Paula
Yes quinoa seeds can be sprouted and eaten as raw, live food for snacks or in salads and sandwiches.
Raw quinoa salad:
# 1 cup sprouted quinoa (Make your own)
# 1/3 cup chopped tomatoes
# 1 peeled and chopped cucumbers
# 1/3 green onion, chopped
# 1/4 lemon, juice
# 3/4 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
# sea salt
Mix all ingredients together and anjoy the fresh taste
To sprout the seeds, soak about 1/3 cup seeds in a jar for 2 to 4 hours, then drain and rinse the seeds twice a day for 2 to 4 days. When the sprouts are about 1 inch long, place them near a window for chlorophyll to develop, which will give them a vibrant green color.
I have recently begun making a multigrain bread that uses quinoa, and it is great. Have not cooked with it yet, but after reading all these comments, will have to. I buy my quinoa in bulk at a local natural foods store…How do I know if it is pre-rinsed??
I love Quinoa! Just tried the recipe i saw on here that was quinoa, cilantro, tomatoes, avocado, red onion and chicken. add black beans instead of chick peas. it is yummy!!
I'm on raw vegan diet. I sometimes have quinoa for breakfast or lunch. I like it with almond milk (cashew or hemp milk for a change) . I add some nuts and fruits (walnuts, coconuts, banana, raisins, linseeds ). A bit of agava nectar (or honey) and it's perfect muesli. Sometimes I add some tahini or sprinkle a bit of cinammon.
This breakfast gives me lots of energie for the rest of the day. I suppose that your kids would love it.
Marta, The whole idea of a raw diet really intrigues me. Do you sprout the quinoa before you eat it or is there some other preparation method? I became a vegetarian about two months ago and am really enjoying exploring new ways of eating.
Hi, Today I purchased a packet of red quinoa, intending to add about a tablespoonful to my meusli mixture [which includes many nuts, seeds and dried fruit] LUCKILY, I looked up quinoa on Google – to learn more about it, particularly the nutritional value. Imagine my surprise [shock!!] to read it has to be cooked; and indeed, is more for a savoury dish. There is an ad. on t.v. for bread containing quinoa seeds, and that is what gave me the idea to buy some. I thought it would be eaten like linseed!! I hope this gives you a laugh!!
I will try some of your recipes for a lunch/evening meal – they sound delicious. Thanks for all your info.
Elizabeth, a 65 yr. old Aussie Grandma
Quinoa flakes were my first introduction to quinoa. I followed the instructions on the box and cooked them with apple juice. Mmmm, good. Tasted like warm apple sauce! I've tried a couple other fruit juices too.
Any suggestions on using quinoa flakes? Ive seen them and wanted to try, but unsure if it can be used just like the seeds or differently. Can it be substitued as flour?
Julie – I did this post for you:
Quinoa Flakes
It can be substituted for flour, but quinoa flour might be a better choice. Quinoa flakes are more of a substitute for oatmeal.
Wendy
Hi,
I'm enjoying experimenting with quinoa and think this site is awesome.
One question, what should the cooked texture of the quinoa? Should it
be cooked through or still have a slight crunch to it?
Thanks, Kathy
It really depends on what kind of dish you are preparing and your personal taste. In general, I like it to still have a slight crunch to it – remember it is a seed and most seeds are crunchy! Of course, there are dishes like when I make quinoa risotto that it loses a bit of its crunch in the creation of a creamy texture. One of the worst things though is to have too much liquid that doesn't get absorbed and its soggy. That is the quickest way to ruin quinoa! So, if you are ending up with a slight crunch and you enjoy it you are doing perfectly!
I was curious if I could make a type of salsa to top off a chicken taco and came up with this creation.
1/2 cup Quinoa + 1 cup water bring to boil and shut off, let cool.
15 oz can black bean drained
11 oz can fiesta corn drained
14.5 oz petite diced tomato drained do not squeeze the juice just drain
1 Jalapeño de-seed and julienne than dice
2 or 3 slices of red onion then diced depending on how much you love onions
4 garlic cloves diced, I love garlic
1 lemon juice squeezed
5 or so stems worth of cilantro diced
fresh ground black pepper maybe 1 tablespoons worth I just added and mixed till coated throughout
sea salt to your liking
Mix all the ingredients together and let it sit for the flavors to mix and soak.
As for the Chicken, I purchased a Whole Rotisserie Chicken from Costco and took off all of the meat from the bone and they are delicious just the way they are!
Tortilla of your choice, I chose corn, top it with chicken and the quinoa salsa mix. Some hot sauce if you like and Enjoy
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs027…
Mike – Thanks for the recipe and photo! It sounds wonderful!
I love to cook up quinoa and just a bit of ground turkey and use it to stuff bell peppers. A bit of organic tomato sauce on top and an hour in the oven at 350 — you've got a healthful, tasty meal that really satisfies! I use quinoa everywhere I would ordinarily use rice, pasta or couscous. Complete protein and low on the glycemic index.
Catherine – You know, I have never made quinoa with tomato sauce. I am going to give it a try! Thanks for the suggestion!
I was introduced to Quinoa about 4 years ago. It was prepared with chicken stock and saute onions was added before the quinoa was completed. I loved it. It never occured to me to try cooking it with eggs or actually adding it to salads. I was looking thru other comments above, and will considered trying preparing it differently, such as in salads, vegetables, and home made soups. I have passed on the grain to other people, and haven't came across anyone who didn't like it. Thanks for having this site to share preparing of Quinoa .
Shelia – You definitely need to try it in new ways! I am toying with the idea of doing a cookbook and have recently been experimenting with more new ways to enjoy quinoa. I have been big on quinoa salad for a long time and am really trying to branch out into more fall-like dishes. The other night I made a gratin with butternut squash that was out of this world. Last week I did a casserole with wild rice, low fat cream cheese, cranberries, sage and apples. It was awesome and tasted almost like stuffing. My point in saying this is that there is just so much you can do with it so don't be afraid to get creative!
What a great site! I saw your blog from the foodie blog roll and I like what you have here.if you won't mind I'd love to guide Foodista readers to this post.Just add the Quinoa widget at the end of this post and it's all set, Thanks!
Alisa, Thanks for the compliment – your site is beautiful! I approved the comment but wasn't sure if I needed to do something else with the widget.
I found you by Googling "how to cook quinoa" and am so glad I did! I would not have thought to soak or rinse and when some posters said it was bitter I was motivated. Cooked it exactly as you said with broth and plain it was excellent! Am dividing up my bounty and made the apple, carrot, cider vinegar dressing salad recipe on your site with some leftover chicken chunks from my roasted "Smart Chicken." YUM! Thank you so much for your site!
Lisa, Thank you so much for the complements! It is such a wonderful feeling when people enjoy the site! Check back soon as I am currently working on quite a few new recipes!
Hi Wendy, I just wanted to say thanks for offering such an interesting and informative website with so many recipes! I've tried quinoa a few times, but finally decided I'd like to make it myself. Last night I had a potluck dinner, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity. I worked off your "Clean Eating" salad recipe, and it was fantastic! Definitely a group-friendly dish. I'm also happy to say that it was pretty easy to cook quinoa, especially given my necessary improvisation due to a lack of certain materials. I've been checking out some more of your recipes, and I can't wait to try them! Thanks for the cooking tips–they're quite helpful, especially for a quinoa novice.
Take care!
Michelle- Thank you so much! I am glad you enjoyed that recipe – it is one that I cook often as well. I am currently working on some holiday quinoa recipes so check back!
I am always looking for new ways to serve quinoa to my girls!! Love your blog and welcome to foodbuzz!
I love your site as well! Your girls are so lucky to go to a school where they get nutritious foods like quinoa! My boys both love quinoa! I have actually been thinking of including a "Quinoa for Kids" segment and was wondering what the interest might be.
Thanks for the welcome to Foodbuzz. I haven't had too much time to be on it yet, but from what I've seen its really impressive. So many great websites out there, so much time. Looking at other sites made me realize I need to start taking pictures.
Wendy
Try some chopped zuchinni, onion, finely diced chipotle peppers in adobo and top it with a little mexican cheese. The chipotle peppers are a great addition to quinoa dishes, as they add a nice smokiness to it.
Don – That actually sounds amazing! Although I have used chipolte peppers many times, I have never tried them with quinoa! I am going to give ti a shot! Take care, Wendy
Yummy Yummy
today I had my first taste of quinoa, I bought a packet a long long while ago (could be years)
the instructions on the packet where very brief, 1 q n 2 h2O, bring to boil simmer for 15 mins, add stock intsead of h2O so I did – chicken stock, my cupboards are not far off empty, but had few eggs one carrot and two onions (not the freshest of onions either) so what to do with it now!!
I treated it as I would doing a stir fry, cooked eggs with soy sauce – set to one side, thinly cut carrot and added to smoking wok, dribble of soy again, tossed about for a few moments added onion, umm looked a little boring so sprinled over lots of ginger, cooked till onion just done, added big two serving spoons of cooked quinoa, twisted in some black pepper and pinch of salt, it was quite nice. So I'm thinking all the befefits you mention and the ease of cooking with it, it will now feature in my cupboards a lot more. Next time I think the quinoa needs to be not so wet, like using rice the day after it is cooked!
Bye for now
Bob
Bob – I am glad you enjoyed it! You are right though, it should not be wet at all. The moisture should be like a rice in most recipes. This is a simple fix though – just increase the heat a bit or cover the quinoa as it cooks.
My favorite recipe is a cold quinoa dish. I add lemon juice/olive oil/garlic dressing that I use regularly in salads, finely chopped celery, green & red pepper, scallions, chick peas, and feta cheese. I chill it in the refrigerator and have it ready to eat whenever I wish. I have also added the canned tomatoes/onions/peppers/cilantro in place of the feta cheese (I don't like the two together, but you might so experiment with a tiny bit before adding to the whole amount).
Sounds great! I love chick peas, feta and quinoa mixed together! I am going to try your recipe soon!
I just tried Quinoa too. I boiled it in veg.broth, then added garbonzo beans, golden raisins and a dash of curry.
When ready to eat, I added some pine-nuts. I'm not sure about curry powder yet…. This is all a new learning
experience with Quinoa. I'm really glad this site is here to get ideas on how to prepare it. I too, want to eat healthier
and replace meat/chicken, which I'm not eating too much of now-a-days.
Question with the above recipe…. Polenta w/ quinoa. Are they separate dishes, with added marinara sauce over both?
or do you mix the polenta w/ quinoa?
I would love to know that too! The polenta with quinoa sounds amazing!
Recently a friend of mine introduced me to quinoa. She's a health nut and I am too, just not as much as her. I agreed to try it that night. She prepared her famous homemade marinara and we purchased polenta with quinoa in place of the usual pasta. It was magical. I fell in love with "polenta with quinoa" and now I am on a quest to fall in love with just quinoa. Your website is perfect for me.
My question is what is the difference between the golden, white, black, etc types? Is the nutritional value the same? Is the taste the same?
Emily – I would love to hear more about the polenta with quinoa dish. It sounds just amazing!
The nutritional value of the different types of quinoa are roughly the same. I say roughly because even among the same color quinoa there are slight nutritional variations based on where it is grown, how it is harvested, whether or not it is pre-rinsed and if so the rinsing method used. I just bought black quinoa for the first time this week and have not yet cooked it. From my experience I have found red quinoa to be a little firmer than white. It also seems to take a bit longer to cook.
Hi, so glad i came across this website! my daughter has a rare food syndrome called FPIES, i was so excited when we were told we could trial "Q" with her as she only has 7 "safe foods" right now and im hoping "Q" will now be a big staple in her restricted diet. I will def be coming back and looking through recepies! Thank you so much!
Hi Sherree' – Sorry to hear about your daughter but glad that you found us and hope that quinoa works for her. How old is she? My 4 and 5 year old boys both love quinoa.
I am so happy I found you; I discovered quinoa last year and love love quinoa! I would love to follow you, but can't find your Follow me area. I want to find new recipes to serve it and convince my husband that it is good.
Rita
I love your website! After recently purchasing a bag of organic quinoa from Costco, I wanted to learn more about it. I have certainly learned a lot and found great cooking ideas from the preceding comments. One thing not mentioned, is that quinoa is pronounced "keen wah." I've had to really concentrate to NOT think "qwin o ah," which is how it looks phonetically to me.
Hello…..I made quinoa last night. I added walnuts….dried cranberries and diced canned pears. I had it for lunch today and loved it.
Today Wed Sept 29 the Chicago Sun Times ran a feature article in their food section.
Maxine Weindruch
i'm so glad i stumbled upon this website! i ate quinoa for the first time yesterday, and i think i'm hooked. i eat very little meat, and i'm a runner, so finding "powerhouse foods" like this is very beneficial. i love that what is written here about food is healthy and helpful, encourages balance, and aims at eating whole foods, and well-balanced meals (as opposed to promoting fad diets…i too need my carbs!)
thanks again!
Julia – Thanks for stopping by. I was hooked on quinoa too from the first time I ate it. I also eat very little meat so quinoa is a really big part of my diet. I believe it was Self magazine that called quinoa one of the five most important foods for runners! I ran through my late 20's and am so sorry I ever gave it up. If I hadn't, I would never struggle with my weight the way I do now. I am naturally very muscular, so running adds a great balance for me – I had forgotten until I read your comment just how much I missed it! Because I had major foot surgery when I was 16, I have to lose a little more weight before I can run. Tomorrow I am taking the day off from work to work on my October goals, and you have motivated me to include in it a plan to get back running! Thanks!
What a great website. I started acupuncture treatments for my knees last week and the practitioner recommended I do a liver cleanse which consists of a shake 1x/day and cutting out everything but fruits, veggies, fish and some chicken and turkey for a month. There was a suggested menu and one of the breakfast recommendations was quinoa. I had no idea what that was but it said it could be found at the health food store. Sure enough, I found it. I bought a box of quinoa flakes. Yesterday was my first chance to try it. I boiled it w/apple juice and loved it, especially love that it has so much protein and I don't hungry right away. Can't wait to get quinoa and cook it up to replace the usual rice in recipes!
Wendy:
I just re-read your recipe on meatballs with quinoa. They ARE indeed yummy. I found a recipe the other day for meatball soup (http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=701053) and switched the rice for quinoa. I was leery 'cause the recipe indicated to NOT cook the rice but IT REALLY WORKS! What a time saver! Oh and definitely make the toasted spices! It's worth it!
Thanks for the inspiration!
where can i get this quinoa springfield ma
If your local grocery store does not carry it, you can try your health food store. Places like Whole Foods are great, because you can buy it in bulk and save a bunch of money. In fact, this weekend I was able to purchase it in bulk at my Whole Foods on sale for $1.89 a pound. You can also buy it online if you cannot find it locally – there is a link at the top of the site where you can buy quinoa.
By the way folks I’m talkin 2 cups of dry quinoa here, who knows how many cups of quinoa was on that plate once it was cooked, and I ate it with raw broccoli, red grapes, probiotic yogurt, 3 large strawberries, a hand full of whole almonds, and a glass of water. All I know is if you want to be a warrior, you have to eat like a warrior, and that’s my tip for the day folks I’m out, have a good christmas
I ate a plate of quinoa tonight, about 2 cups, cooked with curry powder, salt and pepper. It was difficult to eat and took me about 45 minutes to finish. Next time I'm going to cook less of it at a time and add more to it, but if you really want to reap the nutritional benifits of quinoa pour a cup of it in a smoothie uncooked, this idea has just come to me as we speak.
Hi, I just won some quinoa as a door prize at an "eating for the Spirit" workshop. I have a family that includes 5 males who are not real adventurous when trying new foods. They do, however, like spicy foods. I'd love it if you could recommend a recipe that might "turn them on" to this excellent fuel source. THANKS so much!
Melissa – I have a great recipe in mind that my husband loves. It uses spicy sausage, cilantro and lots of garlic and cayenne pepper. If you give me until tomorrow I will get it up for you.
Hi Melissa:
Saw your post. I'm going to make stuffed cabbage rolls using quinoa instead of rice. It will have sausage in it also. You gave me an idea to add spice (some heat) to the stuffing and I think I'll add some chipotle pepper in adobo sauce to the stuffing.
Here's an idea: Enchilada style burritos:
Heat refried beans
Brown some ground meat with chili pepper
Brown/saute' some onions, garlic, peppers in same pan.
Cook up some quinoa.
Shred cheese.
Add a little of all the above to a tortilla wrap (add as much heat as you need)
Roll up and put in 9×13 oil sprayed pan
Pour a large can of enchilada sauce (again to the spiciness you need) over all the burritos.
Sprinkle shredded cheese over all and bake for 30 minutes @ 350.
These burritos are soooooo yummy and easy to play with on ingredients. Oh use large tortillas (you've got men). 1 enchilada and a salad should fill them up…depending on how ravenous they are.
Hope it helps!
Terri
Thanks Terri, this sounds great. I'll give it a try this week and let you know how it goes. -M
Hi Wendy,
Meal preparation is extremely(!) challenging for me with nut, lactose, and gluten allergies, in addition to being restricted from consuming sugar, yeast, and choline. So, I'm going to look around your site and definitely try to add quinoa as a staple in my diet. Geesh, I should have stumbled upon this sooner
Oh! One question. Does buying quinoa pre-washed, out of the box (Roland brand if that helps) take away any of its nutritional value? Thanks!
Deana – It is amazing to me how common food allergies and intolerance is becoming. There is so much debate in the medical community as to why this is, but some people believe it is because our foods are actually too clean ( i.e. our water has chemicals in it, soil is treated to avoid bacteria, non organic meat and dairy treated with antibiotics ) and as a result our bodies no longer have the good bacteria needed to properly digest everything. My 5 year old has a nut allergy and my 4 year old is much healthier now that we switched him from dairy milk to mostly water with a little almond milk occasionally.
Anyways, you are correct that quinoa is an amazing food for anyone with food sensitivities. Pre-rinsed quinoa does not cause it to loose its nutritional value, but it can be a lot more expensive. If you do ever buy quinoa that isn't rinsed I would recommend that you take the time to rinse it very carefully. I would even suggest that you soak it first. The reason I say this is that obviously you have a very sensitive digestive tract and saponin is very harsh on the system. If you did not get it rinsed thoroughly chances are it would make you sick. The good news is that proper rinsing easily gets it all off.
I made it tonight with chicken broth, a bay leaf, sage and onion powder, oh and a little ground black pepper. I served it under sauteed chicken breast and with a side of zucchini and broccoli. We enjoyed it.
I JUST MADE MY FIRST QUINOA WITH BASMATI RICE. I DIDN'T TOAST THE QUINOA AND NOW THEY STILL HAVEN'T OPENED. WHAT DO I DO?
Judi – It isn't necessary to toast quinoa for it to open – you just have to cook it for long enough and have the heat at the right temperature. If you tell me exactly what you did I could better tell you what adjustments to make. Very often when quinoa doesn't open it is because it is old and dried out. Sometimes you can still get it to open, but it generally will take much longer than normal. Is there any chance where you got it from had it sitting on their shelves for too long?
Hi Wendy:
I just made my first batch of quinoa and oh man it was sooooo good! It's better than rice! It was so flavorful, more so because I used chicken broth as the liquid. YUMMO!
So is there a difference between red, white, and black quinoa? Is there a nutritional or flavor difference? I can't wait to try them and make more recipes!
Terri, I am so glad you liked it! The different colors of quinoa are nutritionally similar, but they taste a bit different. It is a subtle difference. In my experience the darker types of quinoa take slightly longer to cook.
I just made Taboule with Quinoa. This is the first time I have eaten Quinoa, with the exception of a small taste of it in Women's Health Initiative nutrition class about 10 years ago. The recipe is a good one, with onions, garlic, parsley and peppers. I just came home from the gym for a workout and had Quinoa Taboule for lunch. Delicious and satisfying. My husband, who has a very delicate stomach liked it, also. Yea!
I am now a Quinoa fan and look forward to your recipes and suggestions.
My kids love it cooked regular with a touch of shredded Parmesan cheese on top or made like a broccoli rice casserole … I use cooked quinoa with a little shredded colby jack cheese and steamed broccoli or thawed frozen is ok too … and tuna you can also use canned Italian cut green beans instead of broccoli etc you get the idea … its a quick easy fav just mix it all and toss in the oven for a few minutes till the cheese melts … lasts a couple of days in the fridge …
I also add it to soups when I make them like chicken noodle or veggie etc
Hi Wendy:
I have a box in my pantry and can't wait to cook with it. I had some WONDERFUL little red peppers stuffed with quinoa and something at a Cuban restaurant last week and I am definitely hooked. I'm assuming I can cook it in my rice maker? It sounds like it's really versatile and can be cooked in anything from broth to water to??? I'm bookmarking your site and am looking forward to cooking with you!
Hi Terri! Thanks so much for stopping by! Yes, you absolutely can cook quinoa in your rice cooker. It will take between 15-20 minutes depending on your cooker. You will use one parts quinoa to two parts liquid. I highly recommend cooking in something other than water because quinoa really absorbs flavors as it cooks. Broth is great for savory dishes, but if you are making a breakfast dish try juice or milk! Take care! Wendy
It’s not bad with marinara or vodka sauce and parmesan.
My grandma used to give this quinoa drink to my sister when she was pregnant. Boil the quinoa with peeled apples in small pieces, sticks of cinnamon, and cloves. At the end you add small pieces of peeled quince (when it's still hot). Add sugar to your taste. You can have it in the morning for breakfast and the rest, put it in the fridge.
Carmen,
Thanks so much for sharing! I have never tried a quinoa drink but it sounds great! I will have to try it when the weather cools down here!.
I love Quinoa. I cook with it now (great to add to any soups – my kids even eat it!) but had a great Quinoa Salad at Marche's in Nashville. They cooked the quinoa and then mixed it with crumbled goat cheese and a vinagerette and put it all over mixed greens. FANTASTIC!! I can not wait to go have it again or make it at home.
You can't go wrong with quinoa and goat cheese! I love to hear about restaurants serving quinoa because I have never actually eaten quinoa out. My kids eat quinoa too which is pretty amazing! Thanks for stopping by!
I like to keep it simple. My favorite breakfast is 1/3 cup quinoa and 1 Tbls of whole flaxseed combined with 1 1/2 cups water in a small pan. Bring to a boil and then simmer until the water is almost gone. Remove from heat and let cool. Serve quinoa over 1 cup fresh blueberries and 1 chopped mango. Then add a handful of walnuts. My stomach always says thank you after.
MMMMMM sounds good! I gotta try this. Maybe cooking it in apple juice?
Your story is exactly like mine! In fact, we used to ask a friend to bring us Cheez Whiz from Canada because it was saltier than American Cheez Whiz! Ugh! I discovered quinoa when a friend recommended it. My favorite recipe so far is a kind of Greek salad with grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, red onion, cucumber, garlic, parsley, and feta with a lemon/champagne vinegar dressing. I have served it at parties, and it's always the first bowl emptied. Looking forward to more recipes from you.
Leslie –
I am grateful to say that my children don't even know what Cheez Whiz is. That recipes sounds amazing – I am going to try to make something like it this soon. Thanks so much for sharing.
In place of potatoes or as a side dish, I fry up about a cup of chopped or shredded cabbage in small amount of butter until tender then add pre-cooked, cooled quinoa heat thoroughly then season with sea salt or lemon pepper. Never any left when prepared this way.
Donna – Thanks for sharing! That sounds great and I will definitely be giving it a try!
I like quinoa very much. I do prefer it in cold salads rather than cooked hot dishes. I just bought amaranth grain and I'm going to substitute it for the quinoa in these recipes to see how it turns out.
I just came across this website and looking forward to trying the recipes. I just had weight loss surgery last week and once I am able to get off the liquid stage I plan to make quinoa as it's one thing I can have. Pasta, rice and breads are out of the question for me.
I recently had a quinoa dish that only made me want more. A restaurant in Napa California cooking mediterranean cuisine. It was cooked with sweet red bell pepper, nuts and a little chopped fig; a savory-sweet side dish. Loved it! I am on the look out for more recipes.
I can't wait to try cooking with quinoa. I tasted it for the first time the 4th of July.
I tried a spicy quinoa and cucumber meal that turned out ok—not the best, but just ok. I found it in the NY Times last week. I was almost ready to give up on quinoa after this experience, but realize I need more experience with learning how to cook quinoa and cook it perfectly. I am hoping your site will be able to help!
Lyssa – Don't give up on it! I sometimes think of quinoa as being a lot like tofu in that it absorbs the flavors of the things you cook with it. I find that most often I need to kick up recipes that I find to get them tasty enough! For me, that's more onion, garlic or cayenne pepper. Experiment and find what you like best!
Lyssa – Don't give up! There are a lot of great quinoa recipes out there – you just have to find one that you love!
I just discovered Quinoa and the recipe that hooked me was adding freshly chopped cilantro, red onion, tomatoes, avocado and chick peas to the cooked quinoa. Squirt some lemon juice and salt to flavor. YUM!! i eat it alone or with grilled chicken. Add some hot sauce for magic and the family will love it!
Lorraine – That sounds great! I love avocado on quinoa!
I just made my first dinner with quinoa and am looking for more recipes.
Hi Patty! Thanks for stopping by! I am going to be adding new quinoa recipes every day, so be sure to check back!
I love Quinoa. I always mix the red and white together when I cook it. I am looking for more recipes as I am on the verge of going vegetarian as my system does not handle meat very well. Fish seems to be ok and sometimes poultry. I mix quinoa, couscous & whole wheat rice together them steam some veggies. Top the quinoa mixture with the veggies and add salsa and jalepeno cheese sause (heated) on top. Wow, what a flavour. You only need about 1- 1/2 tbsp of each per 1 cup serving. You can do this with only quinoa too. Very satisfying and lasts a long time. I do like hemp hearts so I do sprinkle 2 tbsp on top. This is all a person needs for dinner. Let me know what you think.
Nice to know there is a site to talk to people about quinoa as not to many people I know even have ever heard of it. Thanks Wendy
Jessi
Jessi – I am glad you found us! I actually just made the decision to make a more serious effort to become a vegetarian too. Your dish sounds wonderful. I love spicy foods so I will be sure to try it!