Preparing Quinoa

Quinoa is a wonderful gluten free grain.  Quinoa is a powerhouse of nutrients and energy, perfect to support my active lifestyle.  It is high in protein and packed with B vitamins, iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, and Vitamin E.  It cooks fast, is an easily digestible grain, and of course is gluten free.

Quinoa has a bitter coating called saponin which needs to be removed through rinsing before it is cooked.  I also like to soak all my grains in order to make them as easy to digest as possible.

I make a large batch at the beginning of the week to have on hand for breakfast porridges, salads, and main dishes.  These are the simple steps I take to prepare my quinoa.

• Measure 2 cups quinoa.
• Rinse with filtered water.
• Soak quinoa for 6-8 hours in a glass container with enough water to cover the grains.
• Drain the quinoa and discard the soaking water.
• Add the quinoa and 4 cups filtered water to a pot with a lid.
• Bring to a boil.
• Simmer on low for 15 minutes until all the water is absorbed.
• Fluff with a fork and serve or let cool and store in a glass container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• Makes 6-8 servings.