topic Re: Quinoa prep question in Kitchen

Quinoa prep question

Poodlepet2 — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 17:04:33 GMT

I accidentally bought the kind you have to rinse and I have always bought the "easy cook" variety where you just add water and heat. How do I clean it? I clean rice all the time using a measuring cup and a sieve and I rinse until the water runs clear. Is that what I am supposed to do with quinoa? Any hints will be appreciated. Poodlepet

Re: Quinoa prep question

HonnyBrown — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 17:30:04 GMT

That's exactly what I do with quinoa, Poodlepet. I let mine soak for a few minutes before I drain it.

Re: Quinoa prep question

Bird — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 18:34:17 GMT

On 9/8/2014 HonnyBrown said:
That's exactly what I do with quinoa, Poodlepet. I let mine soak for a few minutes before I drain it.

Me too. You soak it because you can't really wash it with any sort of friction, as it is too fragile. Few minutes soak, then gentle swishes in the bowl with your hand, drain, rinse. - Bird

Re: Quinoa prep question

cndkrick — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 18:47:42 GMT

Poodle, unfortunately I cannot be of help to answer this particular question but anytime I need an answer of this sort, I always take to pinterest. I just searched prepping quinoa, and a slew of posts came up.

HTH

This one might be of particular interest to you!

Re: Quinoa prep question

magicmoodz — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 19:21:55 GMT

I let soak in a liquid measuring cup for a few minutes and then drain in a sieve. I'm not even sure why we are supposed to, but I do it primarily to get rid of some of that "earthy" smell.

Re: Quinoa prep question

HonnyBrown — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 19:42:35 GMT

It's to get rid of the excess starch

Re: Quinoa prep question

Poodlepet2 — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 19:56:19 GMT

Thank you for all the responsesI have heard that if you don't clean it, it tastes awful. I have another question for quinoa lovers: what is the difference between the red and white varieties? Thanks, Poodlepet

Re: Quinoa prep question

cajun3mama — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 20:36:14 GMT

On 9/8/2014 Poodlepet said: Thank you for all the responsesI have heard that if you don't clean it, it tastes awful. I have another question for quinoa lovers: what is the difference between the red and white varieties? Thanks, Poodlepet

Quinoa is a quick-cooking, gluten-free whole grain (actually a pseudo whole-grain, because it’s cooked like a whole grain but is the seed of a beet relative). Quinoa grows in a rainbow of colors, but the most commonly available are red quinoa, black quinoa and white quinoa. Taste and nutrition are similar among the colors. White quinoa tends to cook up fluffier, while red quinoa and black quinoa have a crunchier texture and the grains don’t stick together as much.

Taken from

http://www.eatingwell.com/healthy_cooking/healthy_cooking_101_basics_techniques/5_facts_about_quinoa_nutrition_and_cooking_quinoa?page=2

Re: Quinoa prep question

ahoymate — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 20:39:35 GMT

Treat & cook quinoa like you would rice. Rinse it. No soaking is needed. Easy, easy, easy.

Re: Quinoa prep question

Tigriss — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 22:56:57 GMT

It isn't the starch as much as it is a naturally bitter coating that is nature's herbicide. It tastes funny if you don't.

Re: Quinoa prep question

magicmoodz — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 23:10:20 GMT

On 9/8/2014 cajun3mama said:
On 9/8/2014 Poodlepet said: Thank you for all the responsesI have heard that if you don't clean it, it tastes awful. I have another question for quinoa lovers: what is the difference between the red and white varieties? Thanks, Poodlepet

Quinoa is a quick-cooking, gluten-free whole grain (actually a pseudo whole-grain, because it’s cooked like a whole grain but is the seed of a beet relative). Quinoa grows in a rainbow of colors, but the most commonly available are red quinoa, black quinoa and white quinoa. Taste and nutrition are similar among the colors. White quinoa tends to cook up fluffier, while red quinoa and black quinoa have a crunchier texture and the grains don’t stick together as much.

Taken from

http://www.eatingwell.com/healthy_cooking/healthy_cooking_101_basics_techniques/5_facts_about_quinoa_nutrition_and_cooking_quinoa?page=2

I usually purchase the tri-color -- red, white and black -- from Trader Joe's.

Re: Quinoa prep question

Bird — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 11:49:08 GMT

On 9/8/2014 tigriss said:
It isn't the starch as much as it is a naturally bitter coating that is nature's herbicide. It tastes funny if you don't.

That is exactly correct. The plant coats its seeds with protectants for sprouting. That's why we soak and rinse beans, to rinse off the phytic acids, which, btw, cause us to have intestinal gas. - Bird