Quinoa seeds ( Chenopodium quinoa ) are rich in fiber and minerals and are an excellent source of vegetable protein as they provide all the essential amino acids.
Quinoa seeds are used in the kitchen to prepare salads, unique dishes, meatballs, burgers and can also be eaten raw in salads, after having made them sprout.
Quinoa seeds do not contain gluten therefore they can also be consumed by people suffering from celiac disease.
Warm quinoa salad
A very nutritious and tasty single dish that provides a good amount of vegetable protein.
Ingredients
> 300 grams of quinoa
> 4 medium-sized potatoes
> 30 small tomatoes
> 250 grams of boiled chickpeas
> a clove of garlic
> salt, extra virgin olive oil, fresh marjoram
Procedure: boil the quinoa seeds in boiling salted water for a quarter of an hour. In a pan heat the oil and fry the garlic for a few minutes. Add the peeled and diced potatoes, the halved cherry tomatoes and cook over low heat for about fifteen minutes with the lid; then add the boiled chickpeas, remove the lid and continue cooking for another five minutes, allowing any excess water to evaporate. When cooked, add the salt and marjoram, then used to dress the drained quinoa and serve.
Find out how to make quinoa bread
Quinoa with vegetables
Another colorful and tasty single dish to prepare at the beginning of autumn.
Ingredients
> 300 grams of quinoa
> 3 zucchini
> a red pepper
> 2 leeks
> 3 carrots
> a clove of garlic
> 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
> 2 tablespoons of shoyu sauce
Procedure : heat the oil in a pan and fry the garlic for a few minutes; add the carrots, the pepper and the zucchini cut into julienne strips and the leek cut into slices; sauté the vegetables for about five minutes, stirring, then add the shoyu sauce and cook for ten to fifteen minutes.
Meanwhile, boil the quinoa seeds in salted water for a quarter of an hour; Once cooked, drain the quinoa and season with the vegetables previously cooked.
Try the quinoa, chickpea, celery and avocado salad
Quinoa meet balls
Meatballs are certainly a dish that is tempting and everyone likes it: try this vegan recipe based on quinoa seeds and lentils. If you want a healthier version, you can cook them in the oven instead of frying them.
Ingredients
> 100 grams of quinoa
> 200 grams of boiled green lentils
> half green pepper
> half chopped onion
> 2 cloves of garlic
> a tablespoon of parsley
> 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
> breadcrumbs
> salt, pepper
> 3 tablespoons of flake food yeast
> oil for frying
Procedure : rinse the quinoa and boil it in salted water for a quarter of an hour. In a pan, fry the garlic, onion and pepper in oil for a few minutes. Drain the quinoa and mash it well to remove all the water.
In a bowl mix the quinoa with the lentils, the pepper cooked with garlic and onion, the nutritional yeast flakes and the parsley, working with a fork to obtain a homogeneous mixture; add breadcrumbs if the mixture is too soft.
Create balls and bread them in breadcrumbs; before frying the meatballs in hot oil, let them rest in the refrigerator for about two hours.
