What is quinoa (keenwah)?

Shaun

Shaun

Guru
Joined
4 Oct 2012
Local time
9:07 PM
Messages
918
I've heard it mentioned in an M&S radio advert recently but don't have a clue what it is?
 
Apparently, it's a sort of grain that isn't quite a grain, and has a sort of nutty flavour.

Used in similar ways to cous-cous, bulgar, etc.

At least hearing about it in a radio ad, you know how to pronounce it! When it first came out, I think everyone said "Quinn-oa".
 
Arch said:
Apparently, it's a sort of grain that isn't quite a grain, and has a sort of nutty flavour.

Used in similar ways to cous-cous, bulgar, etc.

At least hearing about it in a radio ad, you know how to pronounce it! When it first came out, I think everyone said "Quinn-oa".
Click to expand...

I guess mine was not the most comprehensive of responses! Mind you, yesterday I could not even get tomorrow & yesterday the right way around... managed to get some sleep last night (though going by my attempts so far, another coffee is needed)
 
Ah ha - nice one - thanks guys (ladies). :D

And (pinching the image from Wikipedia) it looks like this when it's cooked (red quinoa):

Red_quinoa.png
 
Something to try - just to say you have - but I can't work out from looking at the picture whether it would be a dry or wet tasting food?
 
It's really tasty.

A bit like couscous in texture but with a more nutty taste.

You cook it a bit like couscous except you boil it for 5 or 10 mins (whatever the recipe says) and strain it rather than adding boiling water and letting it rest.

We eat it quite a lot as a rice / pasta / couscous alternative - I tend to fry some onion and garlic and chilli and check in some frozen peas or other goodies to it.

Very healthy apparantly

I've got a great recipe for a spring green quinoa paella with loads of asparagus, broad beans etc which is bang in season. I made it on the BBQ last Bank Holiday. Unfortunately I haven't a link but it's in this book, which is superb!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paella-Albe...ie=UTF8&qid=1368708134&sr=1-1&keywords=paella
 
Everyone keeps telling me how healthy it is, but to me, it looks too much like cous cous, and I really don't like that - either the texture or the bland taste. Mind you, I never used to like brown rice, but now I prefer it to basmati, so maybe I should take the bull by the horns and give it a go. I don't think I'll get Tony to try it though - it's all I can do to get him to eat rice once a week!
 
If you don't like the taste or texture of couscous I doubt you'd like quinoa. I don't believe the health benefits of these foods are enormously different - as long as you eat a sensible amount and have plenty of fresh stuff

For carbs I'd stick to rice (especially if I lived in Spain!) or pasta
 
I believe it is technically a seed, but it shares a lot in common with grains - including some of the bad effects for people who are intolerant to gluten and wheat products, from what I've read. Personally I don't like the taste of it at all, it's way too nutty tasting and the seeds are a bit hard, even after they've been cooked long enough. I feel like I've eaten a bowl of gravel when I have it with meals.
 
I haven't tasted either couscous or quinoa and I'm prettty much wanted to try it. Quinoa doesn't grow on the Philippines where I live because it is rice that is abundant here. I've heared about quinoa only here on the internet so I'm curious about it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom