
Picture: PIXABAY
ANASTACIA SAMPSON
Quinoa has once again received its due applause by being labelled a superfood.
Quinoa is a seed, yet may often be considered to be more of a grain.
Uncooked, the oval-shaped seeds are hard, but once cooked they are transformed into a very light and easy to digest food.
Just make sure to always rinse them before cooking.
As their colours vary from white, yellow, pink and black, among other hues, so does the taste experience.
The flavours range from bitter to sweet, yet are very slight and often have a subtle nutty overtone.
The gentle flavour makes it an easy companion to any strong, flavoursome foods.
Interestingly, this highly nutritious food is superb for all ages, including babies and anyone with a weak digestion.
The seeds can be ground into a flour to be altered into baking products, while also boasting to be gluten-free.
Sometimes you might enjoy it as a cereal or replacement for rice, or even as sprouted quinoa.
Quinoa is great in cold salads and to complement protein-rich meals.
Generally, a cup of quinoa contains just over 200 calories.
Still, that’s way less than many chocolate or health bars.
Though quinoa may be higher in carbohydrates relative to its protein content, it proudly boasts a low glycemic index.
The small amount of protein in quinoa is a power punch in protein quality!
So if you are concerned with keeping down your weight, this is a handy food to indulge in.
It may not be banting approved, however, low glycemic index whole foods that are high in fibre and nutrients are always part of a healthy diet.
This seed is very low in fat, unlike some other seeds such as sesame, sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
Quinoa is especially a high source of the minerals magnesium and manganese.
Originally from South America, quinoa was a highly valued staple food in bygone days.
Sadly, the Spanish wiped out much of its harvesting when they arrived in South America.
Now it is getting its due applause again and is gaining global popularity.