What's the Deal with Quinoa?

Forbidden Black Quinoa

Oh quinoa! Yet another Clean Carb that has people guessing. Is it a grain, is it a seed? What the heck is it?

Quinoa is typically consumed in the same way as wheat, oats, barley, and rye and is therefore often considered to be a grain. Quinoa actually comes from the same family as spinach, Swiss chard, and beets, meaning it's not a grain at all. Quinoa leaves look just like their other leafy-green counterparts, but their seeds cook up like fluffy grains. It is often called a pseudocereal, too.

Regardless of what it is, quinoa is an excellent option to including in your diet. It has all essential amino acids (meaning it's a complete protein just like eggs and meat), has tons of fiber, calcium, vitamin E, iron, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, folic acid and beta-carotene (the precursor to vitamin A), and linolenic acid (part of the omega fat family). It also boasts a bunch phytonutrients, like quercetin and kaempferol.

Convinced yet? It's also extremely easy to prepare. Simply rinse the granules under warm water to remove the saponin coating, then place in a pot with 1 part quinoa and 2 parts water and bring to a boil, let simmer until all moisture has been absorbed and you're done!

Here are a few of my favorite quinoa recipes:
Forbidden Black Quinoa
Quintessential Quinoa
Quinoa Fun Dessert