Quinoa - The Mother Grain

Quinoa (keen-wah). 

I usually make salads with it, but I have started dry grinding it in my Vitamix dry blade jug and adding the fine powder to smoothies and porridge. My next project is to make bread with it.

I love it, even the sound of it and I am trying to incorporate it into more meals. It is known as a superfood and if you read on you will find out why.




Quinoa

• First off, it is pronounced keen-wah. I love the way that sounds!
• The Incas used it for thousands of years. They named it the 'mother grain'.
• It is actually a seed, not a grain.
• Unlike rice or wheat, quinoa is a complete protein that contains all 9 essential amino acids.
• It is high in dietary fibre, phosphorus, copper, zinc and iron. 
• It contain Vitamins E and Vitamin B2,
• It's high in magnesium and riboflavin (B2), which can help migraine sufferers.
• It contains Lysine which is especially important in tissue growth and repair.
• It's low fat. One cup of cooked quinoa contains just 3.4g fat, 222 calories and 9g of protein.
• It contains 5 times more calcium than animal protein and 9 times more iron than that found in a single serving of meat.
• It's a pro-biotic and feeds the good bacteria called ‘microflora’ in the intestines.
• It's a good source of insoluble fiber, promoting healthy elimination processes, helping maintain colon health and preventing the formation of gallstones
• In its whole grain form, it is said to be effective in the prevention and treatment of artherosclerosis, breast cancer, diabetes and insulin resistance
• Quinoa is gluten-free and you can grind it into flour to make bread.
• Last of all, it tastes great, it has a slightly nutty taste.

Quinoa Recipes

photo/Tinned Tomatoes

1. Sweet Potato and Pineapple Quinoa Waffles  (The Queen of Quinoa)
2. Chocolate Quinoa Protein Cereal  (Glow Kitchen)
3. Vegan Banana and Quinoa Pancakes (Glow Kitchen)
4. Quinoa and Banana Muffins (Fuss Free Flavours)
5. Greek Lemon and Quinoa Soup (The Taste Space)
6. Mushroom & Quinoa Salad with Feta (Tinned Tomatoes)
7. Carnival Stuffed Squash with Cranberry, Maple, Quinoa and Beans (The Taste Space)

   

   photo/The Taste Space

   
   

   
   

8. Quinoa with Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Leeks & Slivered Almonds (Gluten-Free Goddess)
9. Portabello Mushrooms Stuffed with Quinoa (Lisa's Kitchen)
10. Mushroom and Mixed Grain Risotto  (Fuss Free Flavours)
11. Quinoa and Pea Spice Croquettes  (Cook Republic)
12. Quinoa Wraps with Sweet Potato, Tofu Feta and a Sweet Tahini Dipping Sauce (The Taste Space)
13. Black-Eyed Pea and Quinoa Croquettes with a Creamy Mushroom Sauce (Lisa's Kitchen)
14. Raspberry Cream Cheese Muffins with Quinoa (Calla's Cokbook)

Disclosure: Vitamix sent me a Vitamix Dry Blade to try out. I was not required to write a positive review and any opinions expressed are my own.