Cook and enjoy healthy and tasty quinoa in several different ways.
Quinoa is a low-carbohydrate, gluten-free seed that is rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals. Although this super food is a seed, it can be easily and quickly prepared within 15 minutes. Use quinoa as a healthy and tasty substitute for rice or couscous to prepare a variety of interesting meals. Enhance the nutty flavor and fluffy texture of quinoa in salads, stir-frys and soups with quick and easy seasoning combinations.
Instructions
1. Cook quinoa in a similar manner that you cook rice. Soak 1 cup of quinoa in water, wash and drain. Set the quinoa in a medium-bottomed pan; add 1 tsp. olive oil and stir to prevent the quinoa from sticking to the bottom of the vessel. Pour 2 cups of water, add ½ tsp. salt and cook on high heat until the water boils. Reduce the heat and simmer till all the water is absorbed by the quinoa. Serve the cooked quinoa, as a replacement for rice or bread with meat or vegetable gravy meals. Save time and precook quinoa to use later in different recipes. Cool the cooked quinoa, transfer to an airtight container, and refrigerate for around two days.
2. Prepare a cold quinoa-chicken salad that you can cook in advance. In a bowl, mix 1 cup of precooked quinoa with ½ cup each of celery, walnuts and boiled chicken. Add ¼ cup paprika, ¼ tsp. salt and ½ cup mayonnaise. Combine all the ingredients thoroughly and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving. You can replace the boiled chicken with either canned black beans or canned fish such as tuna.
3. Cook a warming and healthy vegetable soup with quinoa. Heat olive oil in a saucepan. Add 1 finely chopped garlic clove, ½ cup of uncooked quinoa, ½ cup each of chopped carrots, spring onions and bell peppers. Saut , stirring occasionally until the vegetables and quinoa are lightly brown. Add 3 cups of water; 1 chicken stock cube and ¼ cup tomato paste, and simmer on medium heat for 15 minutes or until the liquid boils. Reduce heat and cook for another 10 minutes. Garnish with ½ tsp. salt and 1 tbsp. chopped coriander, and serve.
4. Use quinoa to prepare a Chinese-style stir-fry. In 3 tbsp. of sesame oil, saut 1 onion slit lengthwise, ½ cup each of carrot and bell pepper juliennes, 2 coarsely slit garlic cloves and one 2-inch piece of minced ginger, until soft and lightly browned. Add 1 cup precooked quinoa, 1 cup each of cooked shrimps and green peas that were boiled and drained individually for 15 minutes. Pour 2 tbsp. each of soy sauce and fish sauce, mix well and serve warm. Sprinkle ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper over the stir-fry just before serving, if you prefer a spicy flavor.
Tags: before serving, boiled chicken, boils Reduce, boils Reduce heat, cooked quinoa, cups water, healthy tasty