Do you know quinoa seeds? It is a very good alternative to the usual side dishes (rice, pasta, wheat) and an undeniable health benefit for the whole family. Healthy, Good and Balanced, to know it is to adopt it.
Quinoa recently made its way into my kitchen. Since then, I cook it very often because its benefits for the body are numerous. It is also delicious and can be cooked in many different ways.
If quinoa looks like a cereal, you should know that it is not! This food belongs to the Chénopodiaceae family. just like beets, chard and spinach.
Its benefits are therefore closer to these foods than cereals and so is its taste.
It is not for nothing that this food is called The Gold of the Incas . Originally from Latin America, it has been consumed for several thousand years and the Incas particularly prized it for its energetic virtues.
Today, star of the organic shelves , quinoa, a small blond seed with a hazelnut taste, is making a comeback, always for the same reasons:its nutritional virtues, which are essential to our organism and our health.
- Quinoa is an undeniable health asset. Rich in vitamins B, C, E and magnesium, it strengthens the immune system and the cardiovascular system. It also allows better absorption of iron and acts as an antioxidant which makes it good for the skin and bones. It repairs the tissues of the skin, muscles and bones.
- It helps to fight against migraines and prevents cardiovascular risks.
- Quinoa is also a slimming asset because it has a very low lipid content higher than that of cereals.
- It helps maintain good intestinal transit and provides a feeling of satiety thanks to its richness in dietary fiber .
- It is ideal for a vegetarian diet thanks to its content of essential amino acids similar to those of soy.
But one of its major assets remains its absence of gluten which makes it a valuable ally for people who are intolerant to it. In particular, it is an ideal replacement for wheat!
Small seed with a crunchy texture, quinoa invites himself in well dishes and recipes and makes it possible to replace ingredients that are often less energetic and less dietary.
- You can use it as an accompaniment. It is a dietary and delicious alternative to traditional pasta or rice .
- For a healthy tabbouleh, rich in vitamins and fiber.
- In risotto, it also replaces grains of rice very well and goes perfectly with cream and parmesan cheese.
- Added to a soup, it will easily replace the traditional croutons and will give a little consistency to this dish thanks to its high protein content often absent from vegetable soups.
- Integrated in youromelettes or vegetable pancakes , you will then cook it like the first men to have used it, the Incas, who prized it for its energy virtues.
- Mixed in a mixed salad , its crunchiness will give them some pep. It goes particularly well with a salad of tomatoes, feta, arugula or even avocado.
- Added to the stuffing of your stuffed tomatoes, you will make your preparation more consistent at a low price.
Before cooking it, do not forget to rinse it with cold water. This will allow you to get rid of its natural bitterness and make its taste even better.
To empty the rinsing water without losing seeds, my trick is to use a sieve rather than a traditional strainer. It will be much faster to collect all the small seeds which will not remain hung in the holes of the colander.
80g approximately per person which I cook in twice its volume of boiling water for 15 minutes.
The ideal cooking is steamed so that the grains do not become waterlogged. Whichever cooking you choose, quinoa is done when its grains become translucent.
To keep it I place it in a glass jar away from light.
Its cost is indeed low . You will find it in supermarkets or organic stores at around €4 per kilo. Knowing that as an accompaniment or in a salad, 100g are more than enough to satisfy you.
At such a price, Quinoa is no more expensive than pasta or rice and can become a valuable ally in your kitchen!
Are you a fan of quinoa? Do you cook it often? Quickly leave me your gourmet recipes in the comments!
