Quinoa and Its (rightful) Super-food Reputation.
Believe it or not, quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) first jumped on to the American food scene over 100 years ago at the very beginning of the 20th century as a niche grain sold mostly in health food stores. Mentioned by the New York times in 1913 as one of the many “charming and botanical strangers” to be introduced by the department of Agriculture, it was a long time coming for quinoa to break into the mainstream and be more fully embraced and understood. But, as you may have noticed on many café menus and supermarket aisles, quinoa in the 21st century has certainly arrived!
First of all, quinoa is not actually a grain, but rather what is called a pseudocereal (hence its gluten free status). Mind blown already? Cooked and served very similarly to other popular grains – white or brown rice – however, its botanical relatives are spinach, beets, and chard (part of the Amanthaceae family). The part of quinoa we actually eat is the earthy-colored seeds, and those seeds are brimming with super healthy properties that contain a powerful combination of proteins and nutrients that is mostly unrivaled by any other single source.
In a study titled “Nutritive Values of Crops, Nutrient Content, and Protein Quality of Quinoa and Cañihua, Edible Seed Products of the Andes Mountains,” quinoa got the following standout remark: “While no single food can supply all the essential life sustaining nutrients, quinoa comes as close as any other in the plant or animal kingdom.” Dense with beneficial nutrients, quinoa contains all nine essential amino acids. These amino acids are ones that cannot be made by the body and need to come from food. This makes quinoa a “complete protein,” and a super healthy option to be added to any daily diet.
How is quinoa cooked?
Quinoa can be easily prepared by being cooked in the same method as rice (in a rice maker, or on a stove top) or boiled like pasta. The texture can be altered from a crunchier more kernal-ly variety to a softer creamier quality. The seeds should be briefly rinsed before preparation, and can be added to a diverse range of meals like salads or dips, as side to a main course, or a stand alone snack (or even full meal). Sometimes just adding some pepper and lemon juice is a delicious dining experience.
With an earthy, golden coloring and an unique, satisfying texture, quinoa has distinguished itself in flavor and appearance from many other seed, or grain based foods as a tasty and nutritious alternative to more ordinary dishes. Zouq’s Golden Lentils can bask in that same glowing position as wonderfully rich in texture and appearance, and a delicious and nutritious alternative snack to the everyday, pretzels or unhealthy chips. Check out more Zouq snack flavors at zouq.com!
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