Although referred to as a grain, Qunioa is actually a seed from a vegetable related to Swiss chard, spinach and beets. Quinoa is pronounced "keen-wa". It can be prepared like whole grains such as rice or barley. Qunioa's high protein content makes it a complete protein as it provides all 9 essential amino acid. Quinoa was a staple food for thousands of years in the Andes region of South America as one of just a few crops the ancient Incas cultivated at such high altitude.
It is gluten free, cholesterol free and has a low glycemic index so it won't spike your blood sugar. Below is a delicious recipe from Ellen Degeneres' personal chef.
Quinoa And Cranberry Salad
with butter lettuce and heirloom tomato vinaigrette
You will need:
1 cup of red quinoa
1 1/2 cups of organic vegetable broth
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced small
1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced small
1/4 medium red onion or Vidalia onion, very thinly sliced
1/4 cup almonds
2 heads of butter lettuce, washed and torn into large square pieces
Heirloom Tomato Vinaigrette ( which follows)
Rinse the quinoa and put it in a small soup pot. Add the broth to the quinoa and bring to a gentle boil, cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the quinoa is fully cooked and the broth has been fully absorbed. Fluff the quinoa with a fork and transfer it to a large plate or platter, spreading it out to help it cool quickly. Refrigerate until cold.
When the quinoa is cold, toss it in a large bowl with the next 6 ingredients and dress it with the vinaigrette. Season to taste with salt and pepper if needed. Enjoy!
Heirloom Tomato Vinaigrette
You will need:
2 medium-size ripe heirloom tomatoes, chopped
1 large garlic clove, crushed
1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar
4 tablespoons good quality extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Place the first 5 ingredients in the jar of a blender and puree' until smooth. Season the dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Use immediately in the above recipe to your preference and save any remaining in a tight container for up to two weeks.