Quinoa?
Posted by xdunlapx on May 23, 2010 · Member since May 2010 · 3 posts
What is quinoa and where can I find it? I'm a new vegan and am trying to find new and exciting things to eat other than rice and beans LOL... I'm getting a little tired of rice and beans and veggie burgers. Any help would be appricated. Thanks!
Well it is a grain so you may find it by the grains, or bulk bins... I am pretty sure they would carry it at a health food store so if you can't find it just ask
Try changing up the rice and beans by making pasta and beans, grains* and lentils, veggies and tofu instead. *Try other grains like millet or amaranth.
Quinoa can be found in bulk grain areas or in small boxes in the rice area of your supermarket, but usually hidden on the top or bottom shelves in small boxes next to the bulgar wheat or wild rice.
Quinoa is awesome! It will go with just about anything, as a warm breakfast cereal, in any soup/salad or where you may put rice. In my experience the quinoa in the bulk bins is way cheaper than the boxed stuff.
It depends on where your located for specific places but any store with a good sized bulk isle or a health food shop should have it. If you have them try trader joes, whole foods, sprouts, or henry's. And dont be discouraged if you find you dont like the white variety (be sure to rinse first if you buy in bulk to get rid of bitterness) i much prefer the red quinoa though it can be harder to find :).
We've been buying large bags of organic quinoa from Costo. I eat it just about every day in various ways, usually for breakfast as a hot cereal and often as an alternative to rice with dinner. It also makes a great cold salad base. Something else I've discovered is that when I make muffins I can substitute about 1/2 of the flour with cooked quinoa (it's sometimes necessary to reduce liquid), and it gives them a great texture and lots of nutrition.
Quinoa is a nice change. I'm eating it right now actually. I made quinoa tabouli..yum.
Quinoa is a superfood. It's a great source of minerals, vitamins, fiber and protein. It's one of the best ways to get your protein because it is a complete source. It looks a bit like cous-cous until it is cooked, then you can see the germ ring around the pearls (don't be put off by it). It's extremely versatile because you can eat it on it's own, use it to make cookies and bars, replace oatmeal, casserloes, soups, made into pasta, etc.
I can usually find it in my bulk section at my grocery store and also in the natural foods section (if yours has one), if you have any health food stores or co-ops near you than I'm almost guarenteed you'll find it there and if not you can always find it online.
I have to throw in my 2 cents that if you're tired of rice, please try quinoa AND: amaranth, kasha, couscous (not a grain, but will work), and cornmeal polenta. Also, try all the different types of rice! I have been skipping around with wild rice, arborio, jasmine, basmati, etc. Good for you for trying new things!
And you can cook pretty much any of those grains in different ways - like fluffy rice, as a porridge, make 'em into balls/croquettes... Or like you do with polenta, you can fry up a viscous cooked grain into little cakey deals.
I just bought a box of quinoa flakes - a quick cooking hot cereal. Pretty excited to try this!
And don't be afraid to try kasha (buckwheat), barley and wheat berries, which are the whole grain of wheat. I once made chili and added wheat and it was delicious. I love barley, too, cooked plain as a rice substitute or in soup.
I was going to say something about that yabbitgirl! :)
I like the taste of kasha but some people find it be an aquired (sp?) taste. Try is anyway though, you never know!
Okay. Yeah, Quinoa is great! And, it's expensive in my local grocery (Publix) at $4.99 a pound, but available in the health food market/bulk bin for $1.69 a pound. However! There is still the issue of having to soak/drain/rinse/cook it to get rid of the "soapiness". I've only done this once, since I don't (yet) have a colander to accommodate. I made a SW salad with quinoa, black beans, cilantro, cumin, etc, and served it cold ( I believe the recipe is on Vegweb). No One else in my fam damn liked it. The meat eater didn't tell me why, but he seems to be "game" for all my other vegan creations. The vegetarian said it was "weird". But, he's 15, so I give him some slack. I think he might have enjoyed it with some cheese slathered on it. I personally LOVED it, and will make it again! But, I hate the fact that I have to factor in the soak/rinse before. I'm kinda lazy.
Not for noithing. I have a pantry full of quinoa and am SOOOO gonna make it again, but I just feel that people need to know that it's not your average couscous! It requires more than a 5 min soak in some hot water. It's an awesome protein source and I fell MIGHTY eating it, but buyer beware that it's a bit of a chore. More so than Steel Cut Oatmeal, which is ALSO mighty, and a personal fav,
I've never soaked quinoa in my life and I've eaten a lot of it. I wash it well in a fine sieve, measure water as for rice and steam as for rice. No problems here.
Note to self: Get some more quinoa.We're out.
I have never soaked my quinoa. I just rinse it a couple of times then toast it in the pot to dry it before adding the water.
also never soaked it - but I don't rinse it either....I guess I'm not following the rules...
also never soaked it - but I don't rinse it either....I guess I'm not following the rules...
You and me both!
also never soaked it - but I don't rinse it either....I guess I'm not following the rules...
You and me both!
X3
also never soaked it - but I don't rinse it either....I guess I'm not following the rules...
You and me both!
X3
X4
When I lived in California, I got my quinoa out of a bulk bin. I never rinsed it, but once it was REALLY bitter. After that, out of instict I rinse. I just don't ever want to experience that awful flavor again :(
Pages