Tips to Get You Started Cooking Quinoa
If you are like me, you are always on the look out for new foods to try that are not loaded with unhealthy preservatives. A food that I recently found that I really enjoy is quinoa. Although it has been cultivated for over 5,000 years in certain portions of South America, it is a relative newcomer in most other parts of the world. This nutritious seed has really become popular in the last few years. If you would like to know more about it then read on!
The most important thing to know if you are new to cooking quinoa is that you must rinse it thoroughly prior to cooking. The reason is that the exterior is covered with a substance called saponin that is both bitter and soapy. Not only does it taste terrible it can also upset your stomach. Luckily, getting the saponin off is easy. Simply rinse the quinoa with warm water for four or five minutes. When the water runs clear you can cook the quinoa.
Quinoa can be prepared in many different ways. By far the most common is to cook it much like you would rice. Bring twice as much liquid as quinoa to a boil and reduce your heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for around 18 minutes or until the water is absorbed. When the quinoa is cooked you can add it to soups, salads and stir fry recipes.
If you would like to increase the nutritional value of quinoa, you may germinate the seeds. When you germinate quinoa it activates natural enzymes and increases the vitamin content. Quinoa can be germinated by soaking it in fresh water for just four hours, which is short compared to the germination time of other grains, (wheat takes twelve hours). Once it has been germinated you can even eat it raw.
Other Articles You May Enjoy: