Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wah) is the edible seed from the quinoa plant, a plant related to spinach and chard. Although technically a seed, it is generally classified as a grain since its appearance is similar to the grains we are familiar with.
Quinoa is a superfood that offers a wide range of benefits to our health. Some of the benefits of eating quinoa are:
When the quinoa seed grows, it protects itself from insects and wildlife by coating itself with a bitter substance called saponin. Most of the Quinoa sold in North America has been pre-rinsed to remove this substance. Therefore, rinsing is not necessary.
Many backpackers want to eat quinoa on the trail but choose not to because it takes upwards of 15 minutes to cook thoroughly. Outdoor Herbivore’s Instant Organic Quinoa has been rinsed, cooked, and dehydrated to provide you with the fastest-cooking quinoa on the market! Add the desired amount of quinoa to boiling water and reconstitute for 10 minutes. Because quinoa has a mild taste, it should be seasoned to improve the flavor.
Quinoa seeds may be sprouted in water for as little as 4 hours to boost its nutritional value and speed up cooking time. Sprouting or germinating seeds activates the natural enzymes present in the seed and multiples vitamin content.
If you want ready-to-eat quinoa to use in cold-soak trail salads or cold breakfast cereals, we recommend using puffed/crisped quinoa.
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Quinoa is a superfood. It is a complete protein source and a healthy alternative to wheat. It is recommended by several nutritionists, especially as a vegetarian protein source.