Crazy for Quinoa

I am completely fascinated by quinoa these days.  If you're not familiar with quinoa (pronounced 'keen-wah'), this post will hopefully change your life.  Quinoa is a grain-like crop & is a complete source of protein.  It resembles grains of sand & reminds me of couscous. Quinoa is sold at your local grocery typically on the same aisle as rice & other grains.  If you're a lucky soul who lives close to a Whole Foods store, you can find quinoa in the bulk section & try out a tiny bit before making the leap to buying a bag.  I love the versatility of this healthy grain.  I view quinoa much like I do rice or grits:  you have to add something to it to make it fun.  You see, buy itself, quinoa is very bland, albeit filling.  It is the type of dish that fills your belly without filling out your waistline. When you add simple ingredients to it like a chopped cucumber, red & yellow bell pepper, & parsley, you have yourself a California style quinoa salad.  You can literally add anything in your pantry or fridge to quinoa & have a sturdy side dish for dinner or an easily transportable lunch.  It is even great for breakfast in lieu of oatmeal.  I've had a fried quinoa cake at a restaurant before & was in total foodie euphoria.  Quinoa is prepared just like rice with a 2:1 ratio, meaning two cups of liquid to one cup of quinoa.  The only preparation you must do is rinse the quinoa thoroughly in a fine mesh strainer before cooking, as it has a very sandy residue.  No one wants to eat a mouthful of dirt.  :-)  Here's a super simple recipe just to get you started:


CAPRESE QUINOA

- one cup quinoa, thoroughly rinsed
- two cups chicken or vegetable stock (You can use water; I just like stock flavor.)
- one small white onion, chopped
- two cloves garlic, minced
- one pint cherry tomatoes, halved or chopped
- handful of fresh basil, chopped
- drizzle of balsamic vinegar (optional)

In a saucepan, bring the quinoa & stock to a boil.  When it hits the boiling point, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover & cook until the quinoa is translucent & has 'spiraled' from the grain (about 15 minutes). Transfer to a large bowl & add the onion, garlic, tomatoes, & basil.  Drizzle with balsamic for a delightful caprese-style side dish.  If you wish to serve it cold, simply let the quinoa cool in the large bowl & add the ingredients once it has cooled down.  I also like to add fresh lemon juice & capers because I *love* salt. 

Y'all are going to love this versatile superfood!!  Please send me your feedback & favorite quinoa recipes.  Just one cup of this delicious grain makes an entire pot, so it is not only friendly to your waistline, but also to your wallet, as you can stretch it out for a few days.  That is just one extra reason in this economy to go crazy for quinoa.  Enjoy!