It has been called a super food and a super grain by experts everywhere.  Have you jumped on the Quinoa band wagon yet?

There is no doubt that one of the most impressive things about the nutritional profile of quinoa is the protein.  Although it does indeed have a lot of protein, it’s the quality not the quantity that is so impressive.

When looking at nutrition facts quinoa is unique for a vegetarian protein in that it contains all  of the essential amino acids.

Most grains do not contain lysine, which is an amino acid that is essential for cellular repair.  This makes quinoa a complete protein.  According to the World Health Organization, the protein found in quinoa is equivalent to that found in dehydrated whole milk.

Quinoa is actually not a grain at all.  Rather, it is a seed.  It is a relative of beets, spinach and chard.  Because it is not a member of the grass family, quinoa is considered the perfect food for those with food sensitivities.  Even people who have wheat intolerance can enjoy cooking quinoa!

I recently bought a big bag of Organic Quinoa from Costco. I cooked it in my rice maker and ate it just like rice.

It was okay, but I was curious what else I could do with it.

My friend Nadia gave me this recipe.  http://spoonforkbacon.com/2011/11/cheesy-quinoa-cakes/

I made a varied version cause I didn't have all the stuff and it was pretty good!

Have you ever had Quinoa? What did you think? Any cool recipe's you want to share?

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