Quinoa is a grain that has more nutritional value than most. It contains all the essential amino acids necessary to humans, high in protein, and rich in vitamin B6. I was unfamiliar with this grain until recently, and when I first heard of it I thought it must be too complicated to make. Alas I was wrong as easy to cook as rice, and far healthier, quinoa has become a regular stable at my dinner table. The rich nutty flavor has enhanced many dishes in my home already.A friend started me on my quinoa journey with a wonderful recipe from epicurious.com. When I prepared this dish at home for the first time there were only two of us eating and we finished the whole batch! It was easier than it sounds - I skipped some of the more complicated steps, like simmering the cumin seeds in olive oil, and I cooked the squash in my oven not on a barbecue.I went to whole foods and bought a whole bag full of quinoa, at the bulk station. It's only 2.99 a pound there, which is a good price compared to $6.49 for a 12 oz box at Shaw's Supermarket.
Quinoa is amazing - so tasty, interesting texture, and all those nutrients. Yum! Nice picture too.
http://www.hungryblogger.com/wiki/Quinoa
A favorite of mine too! As a vegetarian for many years, quinoa was another way to sneak in a little more protein and B vitamins into my meatless diet. I found out about it in college and have been loving it ever since. It is great in burritos, in stuffings, mixed with other grains (groats, wheat berries, barley, millet) and as is. Look online for recipes, or vegetarian cookbooks are usually a good source as well.
Check out Vegetarian Times for some more quinoa recipes.
Yes- it is much cheaper to buy it bulk and at natural food grocers, as it is slowly catching on mainstream to major chains are still charging a lot for it. You will often find it on the menu at vegetarian restaurants, too.