What is quinoa?

I was at a salad bar today with a friend and she pointed to this grainy, brown, barley-looking concoction and said it was a good, healthy choice. Honestly, it didn't look all that appetizing to me, and my plastic container was already overflowing - so I passed. Mistake!

It was quinoa. While we both knew that it was a good choice, we really didn't know why, or even how to pronounce the name with certainty.

So, with the help of the trusty internet, I googled it. First, its pronounced "Keen-wah."And for those carb-lovers out there, like myself, you'll be pleased to know that it's a great carb, full of protein. It's similar to brown rice, but with a higher protein content.  And it's supposed to taste like brown rice, too.

In fact, here's how it shakes out:
A cup of quinoa will give you around 127 calories, 2 grams of fat, 23.4 grams of carbohydrates (2 of those being fibre), and 4.5 grams of protein.


If you would like to read more about why its good for you, and how to cook it, check out this website:
http://www.dietriffic.com/2010/06/24/what-is-quinoa/


For recipes using quinoa, click here: http://www.cookingquinoa.net/quinoa-recipes/
This site has a lot of good-looking offerings, including main dishes, side dishes, stir-frys, and even smoothies! (remember my last post, watch the amount of fruit juice you put in smoothies!)


Next time I hit up the salad bar, I'll be sure to try some quinoa! If you have any delicious recipes, be sure to comment and share!