Roasted Garlic + Quinoa
Here's a quick "HOW TO" session plus EASY recipe for enjoying my favourite herb, GARLIC and the goodness of Quinoa !! Have fun with this!
I have had several comments and queries asking for some instructions about how to cook quinoa + how to use in our 'day to day'. As with many grains, Quinoa is not difficult to use but some step-by-step info may be helpful!
Please leave comments below about what you do with Quinoa!
I'm very pleased to have Wendy Polisi (www.wendypolisi.com) here today. Wendy has written several cookbooks highlighting this fabulous ingredient! Her first, Quintessential Quinoa Cookbook: Eat Great, Lost Weight, Feel Health
is a favourite of mine. I will be sure to share more recipes ~ Quinoa is extremely nutritious!
She has agreed to share her foolproof HOW TO info to ensure easy perfect Quinoa every time! ENJOY!
We welcome comments AND questions! Thanks Wendy. xo
Quinoa 101 ~ How to cook Quinoa
There are a lot of reasons why you might want to consider making quinoa a regular part of your diet. I love how versatile it is and as well as how easy it is to prepare. And of course, quinoa nutrition is nothing short of impressive. Carol already has a post on quinoa nutrition that you can check out here so I won’t get into the details here. Rather I’ll just say that nutritional experts agree that it is quite simply one of the healthiest foods on the planet.
If you have never tried quinoa, cooking with it may seem a little intimidating. Don’t let it be! I’m here to take all the stress out of trying this amazing super food. It really is a lot like cooking rice so relax and let’s get started!
Before You Cook You Must Rinse!
One of the first things that you will want to remember is that it is important that you rinse the seeds prior to cooking. The reason for this is that quinoa is covered in a bitter substance called saponin. In nature, saponin is a VERY good thing. It protects the seeds from disease and pests as they grow. It’s so bitter that even the birds aren’t interested in the seeds! Thousands of years ago the Incas would rinse quinoa and retain the soapy water to bathe in. Yep, it’s that soapy.
In addition to making your quinoa taste terrible, saponin can also lead to gastrointestinal distress. Terrible tasting quinoa that leaves you with a stomach ache is not what we are after. Hence the need to rinse!
Rinsing is easy. Just place the quinoa in a fine metal strainer and put the strainer in a larger bowl. Rinse for about 3 to 5 minutes, until the water runs clear. It helps to lightly agitate the quinoa as you rinse.
Something that is worth noting is that some quinoa is sold pre-rinsed. Unless your package specifically states that it has been pre-rinsed, my advice is to rinse it.
How to Cook Quinoa
Today I’m going to share with you my two favorite ways to cook quinoa. The first is the method that I use when preparing quinoa in bulk for the week. (Cooked quinoa keeps for up to a week in the refrigerator.) It is simple and nearly foolproof. The second is the method that I use when I’m cooking quinoa, along with spices in a recipe.
Method One:
Fill a medium saucepan with water or broth and bring it to a boil. Add rinsed quinoa, and return to a boil. Cook for 8 minutes. Drain and return the quinoa to the warm pot. Cover and allow it to sit covered for 10 to 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork!
Method Two:
Place rinsed quinoa and cooking liquid in a saucepan in a 1:1.25 ratio. (1 part quinoa to 1.25 parts liquid). Add spices and seasonings. Bring to a simmer (the point just prior to a boil) and reduce heat to low. Cover and cook about 30 minutes. Remove from heat. Allow to sit covered for 10 more minutes.
The recipe for the tasty dish picture here featuring garlic & quinoa -- is easy to make and delicious...
Roasted Garlic Quinoa
Ingredients
- 1 head garlic
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil melted
- 3 cups cooked quinoa
- ½ cup red onion chopped fine
- ½ cup red pepper chopped fine
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme optional...or a dash of your favourite dried herb combination!
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel the top of the garlic clove. Place in aluminum foil and drizzle with a teaspoon of coconut oil. (You can actually skip the oil – it still roasts just fine.) Close the foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and open to allow steam to escape. Allow to cool until manageable.
-
Squeeze garlic from the cloves and place in a small bowl. Add remaining coconut oil, lemon juice, sea salt, black pepper and thyme.
-
Place cooked quinoa, red onion and red pepper in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add garlic sauce and cook until warm, about 5 minutes.
I agree with Wendy who mentioned that this dish is a great place to experiment. Pick your favourite flavour combination or try a new one! Slice an avocado, add some black beans and some chopped Cilantro. Add some Chickpeas or Lentils and some fragrant sweet curry powder. Toss in some fresh (or sauteed !!) cherry tomatoes, finely chopped Basil or mmm a dollop of Basil pesto.
Here's to experimenting + finding new ways to enjoy healthy food + herbs together !
Carol xo
Keva Bintner
You article is well written. I enjoy reading your blog.
Clarissa Schwarz
Very good writing. Interesting and accurate.