Quinoa grains are oval and about 2-3mm in diameter. When they are cooked they double in size and a germ or tail appears around each grain. The standard colour is a sort of creamy yellow although more recently Red and black quinoa have become available.
You can buy it over the counter here in the UK at most Supermarkets and health food stores. It is usually supplied in 500gm packs or boxes similar to the way rice and cous cous is packed. You can also buy quinoa flour and flakes. At time of writing (May 2008) you can only buy these types online but that will change as it gains popularity.
I have also seen it available in shops in France and Germany. In the United states it is readily available and you can even buy it in bulk.
The grains are usually pre-washed to remove most of the sapinins that coat the grains. This makes preparing quinoa very simple. I still rinse mine briefly before cooking but I,m not sure that is necessary now as most suppliers pre-wash their grains in the factory.
The Grain form is by far the most versatile type. It can be used as a rice or cous cous substitute for curries and salads. You can also include it in baking recipes for scones and cookies. It can be served after the normal cooking time of 12 - 15 minutes and the quinoa will be quite soft. But you can also cook it for only 7 - 8 minutes and it retains a very pleasant crunchy texture.
As more and more cooks experiment with this rediscovered superfood I’m sure that we will learn of new and exciting recipes.
Find out how simply it is to cook quinoa. There are more and more quinoa recipes coming out now. You can find out how to cook quinoa. Learn the superb health benefits of eating quinoa and include quinoa as part of your dietQuinoa Health Tips
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