quinoa recipes

[IBrakeforPastry]

Thanks for finding this thread. I like quinoa and have had it in salads and a breakfast cereal in restaurants. When I made it at home, I got a bad stomach cramp (for lack of a better medical description) for about 45 minutes. I didn't get sick, the pain just went away. So of course I tried it again a few days later, with the same results Does this mean it needs to be rinsed better? I bought it in the bulk section of the health food store and so there was no label.

[Crankin]

It might have to do with that. The only way you can find out is to either rinse what you have, or buy a pre-rinsed brand.

[IBrakeforPastry]

I was hesitant to try again, but I know I've had it successfully. I wonder if the preparation method has anything to do with it? I've seen recipes that start off in a skillet, toasting the grains until they "pop", or just boiled like rice. Back to Google...

[rebeccaC]

Thanks for finding this thread. I like quinoa and have had it in salads and a breakfast cereal in restaurants. When I made it at home, I got a bad stomach cramp (for lack of a better medical description) for about 45 minutes. I didn't get sick, the pain just went away. So of course I tried it again a few days later, with the same results Does this mean it needs to be rinsed better? I bought it in the bulk section of the health food store and so there was no label.

Even though saponin is an edible phytonutrient the coating on quinoa seeds can cause irritations in some people depending on how much saponin there is and/or their bodies lack of enough saponin specific enzymes. Rinse yours under warm or hot water, heat helps dissolve saponin. If you see foam or milky water then keep rinsing until the water runs clear. Then tell the store you bought it from that their quinoa has a lot of saponin still on it and that should be told to customers. The whole foods here guarantees the levels of purity from saponin in there quinoa.

[IBrakeforPastry]

Interesting! I will go rinse some under warm or hot water. I think I did rinse it last time, but it was probably cold water.

[kmehrzad]

I rinse my quinoa in a large mesh strainer so I don't lose much of the grain and I can easily turn it over into the pan. This works for me.

[OakLeaf]

Yep, same here (also rinse rice, lentils and small beans in a strainer). If it needs very thorough rinsing, like unrinsed quinoa or oily yellow dal, I might put it in a bowl of water, swirl it around and strain, and repeat until the water is clear in the bowl.

[ny biker]

Is there such a thing as inexpensive quinoa? So far I'm only finding $9-a-bag stuff. Most of it needs to be rinsed.

I am very lazy when it comes to food, am not a good cook at all, so would be more likely to prepare it if I can find it pre-rinsed.

[Blueberry]

Is there such a thing as inexpensive quinoa? So far I'm only finding $9-a-bag stuff. Most of it needs to be rinsed.

Costco. Stil $9-10 a bag, but it's a much bigger bag.

Trader Joe's is also a little less pricey, if you don't have a Costco membership.

[IBrakeforPastry]

So I finally got around to rinsing 1/2 cup of the quinoa that had worked its way to the back of the refrigerator. I kept a glass under the strainer to check the clarity of the water and ended up dumping it about 4 or 5 times before the water ran reasonably clear. Would soaking be more efficient? I just felt as if I was wasting a lot of water.

[GranvilleEsteve]

No, I don't have the recipe.