Discover Quinoa

i decided to venture with a new grain Quinoa that was previously not in my repertoire of ingredients. i searched the web to find an interesting recipe but nothing really caught my fancy so i decided to concoct one:

Quinoa with Sauteed Peppers & Mango Chutney
Cook 1 cup quinoa in 2 cups water until each grain is separate. saute onions in olive oil in a saute pan. when translucent, add finely chopped garlic. add thinly sliced peppers - 1 each of red, yellow & orange. saute for 1-2 min. add 2-3 tbspns of mango chutney, salt, 1/8 cup of water & 1 tsp minced fresh mint leaves. blend this well for 1-2 min. add the cooked quinoa, turn the heat off & mix well. garnish with minced mint & chopped cilantro.

Few other ways to cook quinoa:

Quinoa, the Indian way
Saute onions until translucent. add finely chopped ginger & garlic & cook another 1-2 min. add chopped tomatoes, salt, turmeric & chilli powder. cook until tomatoes soften. add rinsed quinoa & water. let this boil until water is almost gone. lower the heat & cover until quinoa is cooked.

Quinoa with squash & granny smith apples
saute diced squash & granny smith apple in olive oil. add walnuts & salt to taste. add cooked quinoa & mix well. sprinkle some crushed red pepper for a spicy twist.

Quinoa with sauteed spinach & pine nuts
saute garlic in olive oil until it caramelizes. add pine nuts & cook for 1 min. turn heat to high & add spinach. cook until spinach wilts. add cooked quinoa, salt to taste & mix well.

Quinoa with kumquats & harissa
saute shallots in olive oil & add diced kumquats once shallots are lightly browned. cook till kumquat is softened. add meyer lemon juice (key lime or orange juice will work too) & harissa. add cooked quinoa, salt to taste & mix well. this dish will have a nice tangy & spicy taste - you can add some honey to balance & add sweetness but that'll take away from this being a 'healthy' meal :)

Quinoa with sauteed leeks & kale
since it was a rather successful experiment, sharing out with friends & family. kale is very nutrient-rich & high fiber...this recipe is quick, very simple to prepare & a great way to break yourself into eating kale for those of you that are afraid of kale & its bitterness :)
saute 1 sliced leek in olive oil for 1-2 min. add 1/2-1 chopped jalapeno if you prefer spicy. add 1 bunch roughly chopped kale (or replace with any other hardy green such as chard) & saute for another 2 min, just until kale softens. turn off heat & add salt & pepper to taste. mix well. cook 1 cup quinoa separately & add to the sauteed greens. stir well & add finely chopped scallions & chives as garnish.

Don't know where to buy Quinoa? You can find Quinoa at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods markets or try your local natural food store.