Having fallen in love with quinoa (keen-wah) for a few months now, I've just learned that it's actually a seed, not a grain! (shame on markets mislabeling this seed with "whole grain quinoa" labels) These super seeds come in black, red, and white. But are there differences between different color of quinoa?Aside from offering lots of fiber and protein (see Meatless Protein), quinoa also contains B vitamins, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. There aren't significant differences between the colors so just choose the color that fancies you the next time you shop for this amazing meatless protein! Quinoa is also gluten-free by nature, making it a nutritious option for those who are gluten-intolerant or have Celiac's disease.
As far as taste goes, I prefer red and black quinoa over the white variety because they have a nuttier flavor. Texturally, the red and black seeds are chewier than their white counterpart. Quinoa can be served as a side dish, in salads, or even eaten as a breakfast cereal!
Thanks Alison W. for provoking my curiosity about different colored quinoa!
Fun fact: The word quinoa meaning "The Mother Grain" originated from Quechua, the language of the indigenous people of South America.
Photo credit: chieftainwildrice.com
4 comments:
I like adding it to my cereal because it retains a bit of crunch after the rest of the cereal has gone soft. Also, because I gave up on protein powder so it's a nice way to add a bit of protein. It would probably be yummy in oatmeal too!
Adding quinoa to cereal is a terrific idea! And these seeds are much better than man-made protein powder. Perhaps I should try them in a dessert :)
That sounds great! Maybe quinoa and diced strawberries or poached peach halves? Drizzled with honey of course. ;)
Quinoa dessert trial #1 this weekend!
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