Quinoa: The Best Common-Sense Super Food You Can Possibly Get!

I know that many people out there are scared of all kinds of grains and carbohydrates. But they forget that there are also so called “good grains” (or: “ancient grains”) and good carbohydrates. My favorite ones include brown rice and quinoa, especially quinoa (it’s easier and faster to prepare than brown rice). If you have never tried quinoa before, it’s time to change it. If you are like me, and you love creating quinoa dishes, you will re-enforce your healthy habits and learn a few interesting facts about quinoa grain (it will  surely make you crave some more!).

I love quinoa in my healthy, vegan puddings, soups, spicy curries, all kinds of salads and even smoothies. It can blend well with all kinds of dishes and tastes! Let’s dive into it right now!

A Few Interesting Nutritional Facts About Quinoa

• It has been discovered by Incas in South America over 5000 years ago (or more!). This is certainly not a fad food!
• It was only recently re-discovered by healthy food lovers and is particularly liked by vegans and vegetarians (or those who like vegan-vegetarian lifestyles, many of them being called: “flexiterians”, I think I am one of them, I eat pretty much vegan, however I am not 100% vegan).
• It has an amazing nutritional power- it’s full of proteins, vitamins and essential nutrients.
• It is also high in fiber and rich in antioxidants and is gluten-free which makes it a healthy grain (I don’t know about you, but I try to avoid gluten as much as possible; gluten is acid forming).
• It’s versatile; you can use it with all kinds of dishes: cold, warm, sweet, spicy, neutral… it serves as a great rice and pasta replacement. I have recently made a really delicious quinoa-pesto dish. Instead of using pasta, I used quinoa- so healthy and tasty!
• It is the only vegetarian, plant-based full source of protein (it contains all 9 of the essential amino acids)- this is why it’s so loved by vegans and vegetarians. However, it can be also used with meat dishes- like I mentioned before, it’s gluten-free. If you have a recipe calling for white rice, you might consider using quinoa instead. Quinoa-chicken curry can be a delicious dish! Small habits and baby steps always lead to big results.
• 1 cup of quinoa has 8 grams of protein.
• It is low in fat and cholesterol free- great for everyone!
• It provides heart-healthy fats like monosaturated fat (oleic acid form).
• It contains the excellent omega-3 fatty acid that boosts the immune system and decreases inflammation.
• The fatty acid content does not get destroyed by the cooking process.
• It is rich in Manganese, Phosphorus, Copper, Magnesium, Fiber, Folate, Zinc, Potassium, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Calcium.
• It decreases cholesterol levels lowering the risk of heart disease.
• It regulates blood sugar (because it is high in protein and fiber).
• It is rich in flavanoids (I talk about flavanoids quite a lot in my book: “Cellulite Killers”-a  flavanoid rich diet means healthier lymphatic and circulatory systems) that possess alkalizing, antioxidant properties.
• It goes hand in hand with the alkaline diet -perfectly compatible– as it is gluten-free and full of minerals and sugar-free (perfect match). It is not really compatible with strict Paleo diets as Paleo followers reject all kinds of grains (even if you are Paleo, you should eat a bit of quinoa every now and then, it will feel good to add more variety to your diet and do a “healthy” cheat).
• It is easy to digest, even for babies and children (now, I am not a mom, and for the time being I am not planning on becoming a mom, so I can’t provide any expertise here, but many of my friends who are moms, always tell me that quinoa is great for their kids and that you can create amazing baby food with it).
• It is low in calories, great for weight loss (one cooked cup is only 220 calories, plus- there are good calories- as they are full of macro nutrients). Quinoa makes your belly fill full and satisfied for many hours! No food cravings…
• It is low in fat and high in fibre which makes it a great carbohydrate for diabetics.
• It is recommended for those who suffer from anemia– it contains large amounts of iron, folate and even some Vitamin C (it helps iron digest better)

Quinoa Cooking Tips 

No special ceremonies and rituals are required to cook quinoa (unless you want to play ancient Incas), but here are just a few tips to help you out if you are new to it:

• Since quinoa has a bitter taste, it must be washed properly before being cooked;
• Fill a pot with cold water, add quinoa and wash it;
• Drain through a sieve and repeat the process;

Good news: Nowadays most organic retailers sell pre-rinsed quinoa, otherwise I suggest you wash it just like a recommended above (better taste!)

Here’s an Amazon product that I recommend:

• Roland Pre-Washed White Quinoa, 12-Ounce Box

Finally, a few of my favorite quinoa recipes! If you like them, make sure you check out my healthy recipes from:

• The Alkaline Diet Spiced Up
• The Alkaline Satisfaction Cookbook

and The Macrobiotic Cookbook to discover even more amazing ingredients and superfoods you can incorporate into your diet and start benefiting from straight away. Health should always be our number one goal- with vibrant health you are bound to be successful in other areas of your life!

Quinoa Recipes

 Alkaline Quinoa Soup

Serves:2

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 ½ tablespoon bouillon powder
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• Half cup chopped leeks
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• ¼ cup dill leaves
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce Some cilantro
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions:

1. Boil a cup of water (use a large saucepan) Add the bouillon powder, quinoa and cook for about 15-16 minutes without the lid. Once the quinoa turns nice and fluffy, switch off the flame. You can add some more water in case the water gets absorbed by the quinoa prior to being fully cooked.
2. Take some water in another saucepan, bring it to a boil and add the leeks, broccoli, and the lime juice.
3. As soon as the broccoli is tenderized, add the quinoa mixture to this saucepan along with some salt, cayenne pepper, soy sauce and give it a stir.
4. Let it simmer for about 4-5 minutes.
5. Use some fresh cilantro leaves to garnish. It will also give your dish and incredible oriental taste. Enjoy!

Exotic and Romantic Quinoa and Chickpea Curry

Serves:4

This one is really recommended if you want to show your friends that vegan-alkaline diet is actually exciting and fun! Flavours, creativity and health!

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa (cooked)
• Half cup chick pea (soaked overnight)
• 1 minced garlic clove
• 1 teaspoon minced ginger
• 5-6 chopped spinach leaves
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Half cup diced sweet potato cubes
• 2 chopped tomatoes
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoon coconut oil
• Some cilantro for garnishing

Instructions:

1. Heat some oil in a sauce pan. Sauté the garlic and onion for about 3-4 minutes.
2. Throw in the bay leaves, spinach, chopped sweet potato, quinoa and cook for 5-6 minutes
3. Add the soaked chickpea, followed by some salt, garam masala and vegetable broth. Cook this curry for about 15-16 minutes on medium flame. Remember to cover the saucepan with a lid.
4. Sprinkle some lemon juice on top
5. Garnish with some cilantro and serve along with whole-wheat bread or brown rice. So yummy and healthy!

Sweet Quinoa Breakfast

This is an extremely nutritious, slightly alkaline breakfast that will keep your belly full and your mind focused and energized. I also like it as an afternoon snack after my workouts.

Serves:2

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of cooked quinoa
• 2 cups of almond milk
• ½ cup raw almond
• 1 banana
• Pinch of Cinnamon
• Pinch of Himalayan Salt
• ½ cup blueberries

Instructions:

Simply combine all the ingredients in a cereal bowl. If you wish, you can also heat it up slightly before serving (might be a good idea in the winter). If you wish to alkalize this dish and add some natural Vitamin C, simply squeeze in some fresh lemon juice, or accompany this breakfast with a glass or fresh grapefruit juice. Enjoy!

Super Protein Quinoa Salad

If you want to eat less meat- here comes the perfect solution for you! protein can also be obtained from a vegetarian, plant-based diet!

Serves:2

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of quinoa, cooked
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
• 1 big avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 2 cups of spinach leaves
• 1 cucumber, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup of radish, sliced
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• Himalayan salt
• Black pepper

Instructions:

1. Mix all the salad ingredients in a big salad bowl.
2. Sprinkle over some olive oil and lemon juice.
3. Add Himalaya salt and black pepper to taste!

This is a really quick-prep meal. I always recommend cooking quinoa in batches and storing the leftovers in fridge so that they are ready to grab the next day when you want to make a quick salad. Preparation is the key to success!

For more original recipes you will LOVE, check out my book:

Do you wanna get healthy but don’t know where to start?

Join my course: “The Alkaline Diet Lifestyle in 7 Simple Steps“. It will help you create a diet that works for you and back it up with positive thinking, motivational coaching natural therapies for holistic relaxation!

 Start creating a healhy & happy body & mind & spirit today!

To your health success,

Until next time,

Link to this post: The Amazing Health Benefits of Quinoa