Quinoa (keen-wah) certainly sounds very fancy, which makes it seem like a rare delicacy. Contrary to how the name makes the food sound, it is super easy to cook and very accessible! If you're going vegan, it's time to get cozy with quinoa! It is an excellent source of lean, vegan protein (about 8 grams of protein per 1 cooked cup; as stated by the USDA), it goes with pretty much anything you want to cook, and it's tasty served cold or warm. Quinoa barely takes any time to prep and takes 15 minutes to cook thoroughly.
Here's how easy it is:
- Measure your desired serving of quinoa and put that in a pot.
- One cup of dry quinoa fits well in a standard small sauce pan. It makes for about 4 servings once cooked depending on the recipe and your appetite!
- Double the size of your first serving for the amount of water.
- If you used 1 cup quinoa, that's 2 cups of water.
- Cook on high until the water comes to a boil.
- Start a timer for 15 minutes from when you turn the stove on.
- Once it comes to a boil, cover and put the burner on low or low-medium for the remainder of the time.
Quinoa makes a good base for many dishes, and its flavor compliments so many different meals. It is also pretty delicious cooked without spices and served as a side!
*Vegan Pro Tip: If plain quinoa is too bland for your liking, try substituting the water in the recipe for vegetable broth! Super easy and super yummy. 😉
Where do I find quinoa, you ask? You can find quinoa in major grocery stores (also at Target and Walmart) in the same aisle as rice or in the natural foods section if they have one. Also, if you have a membership at a wholesale club like Costco, Sam's Club, or BJ's, this might be an ingredient to save for your trip. It's definitely better to buy grains in bulk!
Quinoa varies in color: white (or "traditional"), red, and black. These different grain colors don't affect the taste noticeably, but some claim that the texture of the traditional quinoa is more fluffy and red or black grains can be more crunchy. Personally, I haven't noticed much of a difference other than the colors!
Quinoa varies in color: white (or "traditional"), red, and black. These different grain colors don't affect the taste noticeably, but some claim that the texture of the traditional quinoa is more fluffy and red or black grains can be more crunchy. Personally, I haven't noticed much of a difference other than the colors!
Stay tuned for some quinoa based, protein packed recipes!
xo,
Danielle
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