Give Meals a Nutritious Boost With Quinoa!

The quinoa (keen-wa) grain comes from the Andes Mountains in South America where it was once a staple food for the Incas. It has a delicious light, nutty flavor. When it cooks, the grain opens up to make tiny spirals. Quinoa contains all eight amino acids and therefore has better protein value than most grains.

1 cup quinoa
Pinch of sea salt
1 ¾ cups water

Rinse quinoa well with warm water and drain. Quinoa has a natural coating called saponin that repels insects and birds and can create a bitter taste. Rinsing with warm water removes the saponin. Place rinsed quinoa, salt and water in a pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and let simmer for 15-20 minutes, until all the water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork before serving. Makes 2 ½-3 cups.

Reprinted with permission from Bastyr faculty member Cynthia Lair's book, Feeding the Whole Family.

Learn more about Bastyr Center for Natural Health's nutrition counseling services or call 206.834.4100 to make an appointment with a Nutrition team.