Qunioa

Quinoa, pronounced as Keen-Wa, is not a grain but a seed and it is a delicious one! Quinoa has originated from South America and has made its way into the U.S. mainstream market and restaurants now, popularly known for its high protein content.

Quinoa's protein content is very high (12%–18%) and it contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete protein source. It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten-free and easy to digest.

The most popular type of Quinoa is the white colored one, but it comes in red and black. The red and black Quinoa is a lot heartier to me than the white one, although all three have a unique taste of their own.

Here is a simple recipe for preparing Quinoa.

Quinoa Vegetable Mash

1 cup Quinoa (White, Red or Black)
2.5 cups water
2 cups mixed vegetables for eg. broccoli, zucchini, cauliflower, carrots.
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1 potato (red or white) cut into cubes
1 tablespoon olive oil
Optional Ingredients for extra flavor: Garam Masala / Curry Powder / Garlic/ Red Hot Pepper powder / Hot Green Peppers
Salt to your taste

I prepare this in a rice cooker but you could also use a non stick pot. In the rice cooker, it is extremely simple. Just add all the ingredients and let it cook. Once the Quinoa is cooked, mash it up so all the veggies, potatoes and quinoa blend together completely.

In a pot, add all the ingredients and simmer it for about 15-20 minutes or until the water is completely dried out. Stir it occasionally to make sure it does not stick to the bottom of the pot. Once the germ separates from the seed, quinoa is cooked. Turn off the fire and let is sit for 2-3 minutes. Mash the veggies, potatoes and quinoa to blend it altogether.

Enjoy a healthy, wholesome and an easy-to-cook meal.