Can someone explain Quinoa to me?

[CRSunrise]

I was looking at Quinoa in the store this morning, and I read somewhere on this site that it's quite similar to rice. I make a dish of Chicken and Rice, and I thought that if I were to replace Rice with the Quinoa, it would make it be at least a little bit healthier.

Help?

[WendyB]

Im sure it would work. 

Heres how to cook it and some recipes. Im sure if you look at some of them yours would work well with it

http://www.cookinglight.com/food/recipe-finder/cooking-with-quinoa

[SunsetRunner]

Quinoa can be used in place of rice. I even have a quinoa custard recipe! You can eat it hot or cold. Quinoa is actually a seed rather than a grain. It takes about 15 minutes to cook. Two things I would advise: always rinse it even though it may state pre-rinsed on the packaging. Quinoa has a bitter coating, called saponins (keeps birds from eating the seeds) so it needs thoroughly rinsed. It also has no real taste. To serve as a side dish, I usually cook it in chicken or veggie broth. Quinoa is considered a complete protein as it contains all essential amino acids.

[CRSunrise]

@SunsetRunner - So Quinoa could work in this recipe?

Chicken and Rice Casserole

2 cans of Cream of Chicken

2 cans of Cream of Mushroom

1 Stick of butter

2 pints of home canned or store bought chicken

2 1/2 cups of white rice

I just have to figure out a way to make the cream soups healthy. I know those are probably loaded with calories.

[SunsetRunner]

If this recipe calls for the rice to be cooked along with the other ingredients, I would say no as the quinoa is softer than rice when cooked and would probably get mushy.

Those cream soups ARE loaded with calories and also a whole lot of salt.

 Puree a Few Cups: Blend just a cup or two of your soup with a stick blender or in a food processor — not the whole batch, though. You just want to add a little body, but still keep the chunky goodness.

 Add Stale Bread: A few slices of bread also help make a soup creamy. Tear them into pieces and let them soak in a cup or two of the hot soup before pureeing and stirring back into the main pot.

Healthier alternative to your recipe:

Chicken and Wild Rice Bake

Serves 4 to 6

1/2 cup chopped onion, from 1 small onion
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 rib celery, chopped
2 pounds skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, about 4 pieces
1/2 cup vinaigrette (See Recipe Note)
2 cups uncooked long-grain brown rice
2 tablespoons wild rice
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth,

Marinate chicken in refrigerator overnight.

 Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine the rice mixture and the vegetables in the baking dish. Stir in the broth. Remove chicken pieces from the marinade and place them atop the rice. Discard the marinade.

Cover the pan with foil and bake for 1 hour. Uncover the pan and bake for an additional 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the rice absorbs most of the liquid and the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear. Serve immediately

       Note: Use your favorite vinaigrette here, or whisk together 2 tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar, 1 teaspoon mustard,   and 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil with a pinch of salt and pepper.

[emili]

you might also like farro. it is a bit sturdier than quinoa but has the same health benefits.

[OCDOC]

---

@CRSunrise wrote:

@SunsetRunner - So Quinoa could work in this recipe?

Chicken and Rice Casserole

2 cans of Cream of Chicken

2 cans of Cream of Mushroom

1 Stick of butter

2 pints of home canned or store bought chicken

2 1/2 cups of white rice

I just have to figure out a way to make the cream soups healthy. I know those are probably loaded with calories.

---

I suggest making a batch of quinoa separately, and make the cassarole as usual (skipping the rice as you plan).

Decide at serving time whether to stir the quinoa into the cassarole, or plate the quin and serve the cass on top.

This way you avoid an experiment disaster that might ruin the cassarole.  R