on quinoa...keen what? keen-wah!

i discovered the wonders of quinoa (said keen-wah) mid last year and have ever since extolled its' benefits. it is an amazing tiny seed that packs a powerful punch when included in your diet. so what does wikipedia said about it...

quinoa has come to be highly appreciated for its nutritional value, as its protein content is very high (12%–18%), making it a healthy choice for vegetarians and vegans. Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete protein source.[5] It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten free and considered easy to digest.

what is even better is that it is super easy to cook...you can either do this in a rice cooker or a saucepan and just ensure you use the ratio of 1:2 - 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups of water. it takes about 15 minutes to cook. it should come out fluffy and light and when you eat it will have a slightly nutty texture...i love the way the little germ separates from the seed and they're like these little curls (it's the simple things in life that appeal to me!)

so then what do you do? my favourite way to eat it, is as a salad. i chop up tomatoes, cucumber, spring onions, then as many fresh herbs as i can get my hands on - mint, basil and coriander usually does the trick. add some soya sauce and freshly squeezed lemon juice, salt and pepper and that's it! it's so good...with all those herbs. there are lots of other ways too that i have seen and generally i think most people replace it for rice...as it is so much more nutritional.

so if you haven't managed to taste some of this powerful little seed then go get your hands on a bag of quinoa...keen what? you heard me...