Quinoa..Anybody?

So, a friend of mine had commented on how he and his family eat quinoa all the time. They're huge "health food" people & eat organic/clean, probably more so than anyone I could ever find in my world! I thought, I'll give it a try. Of course I bought a package of organic Quinoa and it has now sat in my cupboard for the entire summer. I had good intentions but I've yet to hear ANYONE say they love the stuff!? So what to do?


I set out on a mission to find some recipes. It's not as easy as it sounds. I've found some but nothing I'd honestly like to try. For example, just today there was a recipe shared in my local newspaper for QUINOA TABBOULEH. I have not clue what the words mean (Ok, I could look them up but I'm just saying.. it sounded so 'artsy, ecclectic, nuance, worldly' that I think they threw the word in with Quinoa only to entice you to think you were eating something so worldly & different).  It has a lot of ingredients that (yes, I know as someone who's attempting clean eating I should jump at veggies and such, especially raw.. but I don't think I'll ever acquire the taste) I think most of them just turned me off instantly. I'm more a creamy, cheesy, obviously bad for you type of food gal. (Gee I wonder how I got so fat? LOL).  It's the first recipe listed below but click on the link there's a ton of other GLUTEN FREE recipes listed here!



Below I've listed some recipes I've found. None that I've tried. But I am getting ideas of what I want to do with my Quinoa. Now if I just muster up the courage!!!!

QUINOA TABBOULEH
11⁄2 cups quinoa
21⁄4 cups water
1⁄4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1⁄2 cup chopped parsley
1⁄2 cup chopped scallions
4-inch piece of cucumber, diced
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Garnish: lemon slices, black olives, tomatoes

1. Rinse quinoa thoroughly and drain. Bring quinoa and water to boil in saucepan. Reduce heat and let simmer until all water has evaporated, approximately 20 minutes. Allow to cool.
2. In bowl, add quinoa, lemon juice, oil, parsley scallions, cucumber and grape tomatoes. Mix well and season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with lemon slices, black olives and tomatoes, if desired. Makes 6-8 servings.
— adapted from “The Complete Vegetarian Cuisine,” by Rose Elliot

Nutritional Info: Per serving: 162 calories, 5.9 grams fat, 2.9 grams fiber, 5 grams protein, 23 grams carbohydrate, 45 milligrams sodium, 0 cholesterol. Values are approximate.

http://www.quinoa-recipes.com/ has a curried Quinoa Recipe (below) that I may try. I have to buy some spices first though, so that's why I haven't tried this one!

Curried Quinoa

1 Cup Quinoa
1½ Tbsp. Vegetable Oil
½ Onion Diced (about 4 or 5 oz.)
1 Tsp. Grated Fresh Ginger Root
½ Fresh Green Chile
  (Finely Chopped)
1 Heaping Tsp. Turmeric
1 Heaping Tsp. Coriander
¼ Tsp. Ground Cinnamon
1¾ Cups Water
½ Cup Fresh or Frozen Peas
Salt to Taste

1. Rinse quinoa with cold water. Use a fine mesh filter or coffee filter. If you're a klutz like me use the fine mesh filter or a lot of quinoa is going to wind up in the sink!
   Quinoa is coated with a natural substance called saponin that protects the grain by repelling insects and birds. Rinsing the quinoa is important to avoid a raw or bitter taste. You can tell if there is saponin by the production of a soapy looking "suds" when the seeds are swished in water. Good news! If you are using Ancient Harvest Quinoa you can skip this step. It's already rinsed!
2.  Place oil and diced onions in a heavy saucepan. Saute the onions on medium high heat for 4-5 minutes.
3. Add the ginger root, chile, and quinoa. Cook for one minute stirring constantly.
4. A fine, white spiral appears around the grain as it cooks.
5. Stir in the turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, and salt. Cook for one minute stirring constantly.
6. Add the water and bring it to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.
7. Stir in peas. Cover and cook for four or five minutes or until peas are tender and all the water has been absorbed.
8. Fluff with a fork before serving.

Here's a Quinoa Vegetable Pilaf From The Savvy Vegetarian

Ingredients:

• 1 c quinoa
• 1 celery stalk, trimmed & chopped in small dice
• 1/2 sweet red pepper, chopped in small dice
• 1/2 c. cooked chickpeas
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 - 3 garlic cloves OR 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp peeled & minced fresh ginger OR 1/2 tsp dried ginger
• 1/2 tsp brown mustard seeds
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp gr. coriander
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp thyme leaf
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 3/4 cup water or soup stock
• Optional: 2 cups chopped spinach or chard OR 1/4 c. minced parsley or cilantro OR 1/2 cup frozen peas
• Fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Soak quinoa 15 minutes, rinse twice, leave to drain
2. Heat olive oil on medium low in a 3 - 4 qt saucepan or sauté pan
3. Peel & mince garlic & ginger, sauté with mustard seeds for 5 minutes
4. Chop celery and red pepper, add to pan and sauté another five minutes
5. Mix in the bay leaf, turmeric, coriander &; cumin
6. Turn the heat to medium high. Add the quinoa and stir until it's dry and starting to pop
7. Add 1 3/4 c. hot water or stock, and salt. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer 15 minutes
8. Stir in the optional greens, peas, parsley or cilantro, and fresh ground pepper
9. Cover and cook 5 more minutes, then serve

Seriously, if you eat the stuff & have a recipe that's flavorful and delish... please send it to me. Post it here or post a link to it for me to view. I'd love to find a way to eat the stuff! I have no clue why I'm so frightened, other than the numerous people who have commented on Twitter who've said things like "Yuck!" or "I've yet to taste quinoa that has any flavor at all!" and so many other negative comments that now I'm running scared! I did find, surprisingly, that quinoa is NOT a grain. Quinoa is a plant protein, hence why so many vegans love it because it's chuck full of protein and a vegetable! I swear, by my next post I'm going to have a recipe that I've either created or tried & I will share! Of course YOU could share yours so I could try it?! Let me know if you're a quinoa fan and how  you prepare it!

Wish me luck on my journey to "eating clean" and  healthy! 
And please feel free to comment and share ideas for trying to live and eat "clean"!
 

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1.
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2. Joe Gigantino - Fitness Trainer
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3.

4. BWJEN - Another WW Buddy & A 'bookworm' too!?



5.

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6.Sean Anderson the formerly 500lb man!
Diary of A Winning Loser - Sean is an inspiration to anyone trying to get healthy!


*Note I am not affiliated nor endorsed by Weight Watchers® at all, in any way. I highly recommend their program and cannot say enough GOOD about it, but I also have decided that they were my "stepping stone" to making a change in my lifestyle. Any mention of Weight Watchers®, their program or their term of "points®" does not mean they have approved, seen, or endorsed anything on my blogs.

Also, if at any time Points® are mentioned it is always with the assumption that you will analyze the recipes, foods, ingredients and figure the points out specifically for your consumption of any product, as ingredients may vary by brand, size, etc. and Points® is a registered trademark of the Weight Watchers® company.