It is considered a Super Food as it a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids.
It is gluten free, so considered a perfect food to include on a gluten free diet. It is a complex carbohydrate with a low glycemic index, hence keeps you satiated for a longer time.
Quinoa is great choice for vegans and vegetarians as it is a good source of fiber and high in protein. One cup of cooked quinoa contains 8 grams of protein
Quinoa is very low in fat compared to other grains. The great thing is that the fat present in quinoa is almost all made up of healthy fats like essential fatty acids, or omega-3 fatty acid which makes it a perfect choice for weight loss diet.
Advantages – Quick and easy to cook. It can be substituted in place of rice, millet, couscous, pasta in any recipe. It is a nutritious alternative to white rice or couscous.
How to cook Quinoa
Prep Time : 5 mins
Serves: 2
Recipe Category: Main Dish
Ingredients needed
Quinoa -1 cup
Water/vegetable broth -2 cups
Salt (optional)
Stove top Method
Add 2 cups of water for 1 cup of quinoa. When water starts boiling, reduce the flame/heat to low.
Cover and cook simmered for 15 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed. Let it sit for 10 minutes.Then fluff it with a fork. Fluffy, light and tasty Quinoa is ready.
Pressure Cooker Method
After rinsing quinoa well, add 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of water in a pressure cooker. When water starts boiling, reduce the flame/heat to low, close the cooker and put the weight. Cook simmered for 8-10 minutes or cook for 1 whistle and turn off the heat. It varies according to the capacity of the cooker.When pressure subsides, open the cooker and fluff quinoa with a fork. I usually prefer to cook in a vessel inside the cooker. In that case, you can cook for 3 whistles.
Rice cooker method
Add 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of water in a rice cooker. Turn on to cooking mode and cook. Once done it will automatically switch to keep warm mode, otherwise turn off the heat once all the water is absorbed and quinoa is soft. Let is sit for 5-10 minutes. Then fluff it with a fork.
Variations
You can add a little salt while cooking if preferred.
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| Light and fluffy cooked Quinoa |
Quinoa is delicious on its own. When prepared with vegetable broth, it tastes great. It can be used in place of rice, millets or couscous. You can also have this with regular sambar, kuzhambu or kootu. You can make a variety of dishes like salads, soups, pilaf etc. You can combine it with stir fried vegetables, beans or even prepare a quick breakfast with it by adding milk and nuts. I will soon share many quinoa recipes.
Where can you buy? – It is available in all health stores and big super markets in cities.
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very healthy love it…
nice useful post dear..
In tamil it is "Thinai"
No, Chitra, Thinai is foxtail millet. Quinoa is not a millet. It is a seed. I do not think there is any name for it in Tamil. You must ask for quinoa in big supermarkets in cities. You will get it there.
Yes quinoa doesnt have a tamil name as such but itis called "seemai thinai" in tamil. (Seemai =foreign). Its available in most organic shops around.
Healthy and useful please share the recipe of bamboo rice
Hi Padhu, Thanks for your basics on quinoa cooking… followed your stovetop method to make a pulao… thanks again
Hi jus a doubt..is this quinoa is called as thinai in Tamil??
I have already answered the question above. Thinai is not Quinoa.
nice recipe
Hi padhu, tried ur quinoa upma recipe, everyone enjoyed it,thank u very much,can we use it on a regular basis instead of white rice?
Very easy and very tasty Padhu
Hi Padhu
Very informative post for me as I am going to cook quinoa fot the first time. Thanks.
Correct Tamil name please