Quinoa is a South American plant. It is used as food and used as the ingredients of making alcoholic drinks. In the ancient history, it was the staple food and was known as the “mother of grains”. Nowadays, many people also calls it as a “superfood”. Why? It is because quinoa is rich in nutritional value. Quinoa has Omega 3. It also has 50% more dietary fibre than whole wheat. For many people who are eager to keep fit, it is a good staple food as it has less calories. Quinoa has no gluten protein. Therefore, quinoa is named as a “superfood”.
There are three colours of quinoa in market. They are white, red, and black. Of these, white quinoa is relatively common. Red quinoa is high in iron and high in protein.
How to remove bitterness from quinoa
Quinoa is a naturally growing plant with certain saponins on the surface, so it has a certain bitter taste. This substance is also toxic. Before we cook quinoa, the saponins on its surface must be removed. This step is very important because we need to remove the toxic substance and the bitterness as well.
The removal method is by soaking and scrubbing. Through the rinsing process, the saponin on the surface is removed. Because saponin is a water-soluble substance, during the soaking process, the quinoa should be properly scrubbed to remove the residual saponin from the quinoa. Quinoa must be washed well, otherwise it tastes bitter.
How to cook quinoa
The cooking method of quinoa is the same as that of rice, which can be cooked to obtain a distinct taste. The basic ratio is 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups of water. You can use water with a bit of salt. You can also add a bit of white wine to the water for another layer of flavour. Quinoa is a fast-cooking staple, ready to serve in as little as 20 minutes or so.
Quinoa can also be dry-roasted, like popcorn, to create crispy quinoa that can then be added in some delicious soups.
Quinoa can also be used as a baking material, or added to different sweet or salty porridges. Quinoa can also be added to salads after it is cooked and cooled.
