I cooked quinoa for the first time. Started fancy straight away.
In a medium-large pot over medium heat and using a large cooking spoon, I put into pot my herb and seasoning mixture with a bit of water, cut up some celery and baby carrots, let the herbs and veggies cook and soften in a bit more water, then poured two cups of water into pot and let water boil.
Soaked quinoa in cold water and sieve with handheld strainer. Put washed quinoa in boiling water with the softened veggies. I let the quinoa boil for a few minutes, occasionally stirred, then stirred one more time, covered pot, turned down heat to low. Let quinoa cook for 15 minutes, then checked quinoa after 15 minutes, it was cooked, all the water absorbed, turned off heat.
I fluffed quinoa with the cooking spoon, just slowly stirred it, covered pot, put the pot on a non-heated area of stove, let sit for five minutes, then poured cooked quinoa into a food container. Took a small serving bowl and used a small tablespoon to put some quinoa into bowl, and ate the quinoa.
I like the versatility of quinoa. Because I first did a bit of research on how to cook quinoa, realized you basically cook it like rice, and saw how one can put almost anything into quinoa while it cooks, or use cooked quinoa on anything, even in a salad, I started my first time cooking quinoa in style.
Just a small bowl of quinoa filled me up, hours later was still full, and because I made it a complete dish (with the veggies, herbs and seasonings), the quinoa can be eaten by itself. But I also have kale, white batatas (sweet potatoes), boiled plantains, and avocado to eat with the quinoa. Just a small bit of each veggie, a tablespoon of each, can fill me up for hours. Packed with nutrients, I can eat healthy, feel full, have a delicious meal while losing weight.
Part of my herb and seasoning mixture contains sea moss, ginger, turmeric, etc…so I have a nutrient rich spoon of health in every bite. I also used my herbs and seasonings to cook the kale.
In fact some of my dishes may be 'too' nutrient rich especially when paired together, but since I eat a little bit of everything at a time, I'm good.
Quinoa will become a regular part of my diet, will eat it every now and then, will also eat it with salad.
Update: The seasoned quinoa I previously made…added some of it cold to a mixed salad and drizzled some salad dressing onto mixture, taste so good, satisfying, and filling.
Update: The first quinoa I cooked lasted a long time and was versatile, paired with any dish, could it eat warmed, hot or cold. The second quinoa I cooked I left out the cut baby carrots and only cooked with my herb seasons and cut celery.
More info about Quinoa below (scroll)…
"Here's a simple way to cook quinoa:
Rinse the quinoa in a sieve under cold water. Rinsing removes some of the bitter flavor and hydrates the seeds.
In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of liquid to a boil over medium-high heat. You can use water, broth, or even add some dry white wine.
Add 1 cup of quinoa to the boiling liquid.
Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10–15 minutes, or until the quinoa is fully cooked and the water is absorbed.
Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes.
Fluff with a fork and serve.
You can season quinoa with salt, pepper, lemon or lime juice, and olive oil. You can also add other ingredients like chopped herbs, minced garlic, toasted nuts, or crumbled feta cheese.
Quinoa can be used in many dishes, including salads, oatmeal, rice bowls, stir-fries, and veggie burgers."
"Quinoa is cooked through when you see a small white 'tail' or 'halo' around each grain, which is the germ of the kernel that has separated from the seed, making the quinoa look slightly translucent and fluffy; most of the cooking liquid should also be absorbed.
Key points to look for:
Visible 'tail': The most reliable indicator is the appearance of a small white tail-like protrusion from each grain.
Translucency: Cooked quinoa will have a slightly translucent appearance.
Fluffy texture: When cooked properly, quinoa should be fluffy and not crunchy or mushy.
Liquid absorption: Most of the cooking liquid should be absorbed by the quinoa when it's done."
"Quinoa is native to the Andean region of South America, which includes: Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru."
"Quinoa is widely considered a 'superfood' due to its high nutritional content, including a complete protein, ample fiber, various vitamins and minerals, and being gluten-free, making it a nutrient-dense food with numerous health benefits.
Nutrient-rich: Contains a good balance of protein, fiber, healthy fats, and essential vitamins and minerals like magnesium, manganese, and iron.
Complete protein: Quinoa is one of the few plant-based foods that provides all essential amino acids.
Gluten-free: Suitable for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities.
Low glycemic index: Helps regulate blood sugar levels.
Versatile: Can be used in salads, soups, side dishes, or as a breakfast porridge."
Quinoa absorbs all the flavors and ingredients it is cooked with.
"Quinoa seems like it should be a grain, but it's actually a dried seed. The quinoa plant is native to South America, and the seeds from it are harvested, dried, and then cooked."
"Although it's usually grouped with cereal grains like oats and barley, quinoa is actually a pseudocereal grain. Pseudocereal grains are seeds that are prepared and eaten similarly to grains. Examples include buckwheat and amaranth."
"Quinoa is a member of the goosefoot plant family and comes from the Chenopodium quinoa plant."
"Quinoa is native to the Andean region of South America, where it was domesticated by people who lived in the highlands." Domesticated about 5,000 years ago.
"Chenopodium quinoa, commonly known as quinoa, is an herbaceous annual of the goosefoot family that is native to the Andes Mountains in South America (Columbia, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile and Argentina). It is a somewhat weedy plant that typically matures in the wild to 3-6' tall."
Quinoa is from the Goosefoot plant.
For more Gluten-free, vegan and other random health info visit my Healthy Pinterest board where I share a bit of my health lifestyle.
https://www.pinterest.com/LucidCreates/lifestyle-healthy-introvert/healthy
