Quick post today. Quinoa is a hearty, healthy food which I don't eat nearly often enough. For this reason I decided not to include it in my personal "starch staples" series, but it is a starch like rice (though a pseudocereal rather than true grain). Also like rice, quinoa is very versatile and can be used in breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes. I buy it in bulk and always rinse it in a fine-mesh strainer before cooking.
Here's my original quinoa breakfast recipe, which I am enjoying as I type this entry.
Nutty Fruity Quinoa
(Serves one)
1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed
1/2 cup vanilla almond milk (or soymilk)
1/2 cup water
Handful of raisins or dried cherries
Handful of walnut pieces
Dashes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom
Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring almost to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for ten minutes. Turn off heat and allow to rest for five minutes more before serving.
I find that the dried fruit makes this dish sweet enough on its own, but you can also add a drizzle of maple syrup, agave nectar, etc. Very tasty and filling start to the day.
