With recipes this good, you'll need to stock up on quinoa during your next trip to the grocery store!
Heard all the hype about quinoa, but don’t really know where to start? Here a four quick and easy ways to enjoy this complex grain. The recipes below will allow you to try it out in several unique and delicious ways! Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying quinoa at every meal!
The Many Benefits of Quinoa
Quinoa, pronouced “keen-wa” is a versatile grain that comes with tons of health benefits. It’s actually the only grain that is a complete protein, meaning it contains all of the essential fatty acids that your body needs. Quinoa is also super high in fiber, iron, manganese, and antioxidants. Research shows quinoa may lower the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, as well as support weight management and gut health. Quinoa is also a gluten-free grain, so it can be enjoyed by those who are gluten-free, as well!
Four Easy Ways to Enjoy this Grain
This unique superfood can be enjoyed in many different ways. You can include it in breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and even as a snack or for dessert! Not only does it offer a boatload of nutrients, but yummy taste and satisfying texture, as well!
Go for the Classic
Quinoa is classsically served in a similar manor to rice. Although it is higher in fiber and protein than rice, it’s often served warm as a side dish or part of a bowl. Try our Cilantro Lime Chicken with Mexican Quinoa to include this grain as a side, or mix it up with our Turkey Sausage Quinoa Pizza Bowl.
Sweeten it Up
Because of it’s slightly nutty flavor, this grain is found in a lot of delicious dessert recipes. Sometimes it will be more crisp and other times it is used more as a binder (similar to oats). You just have to try our Skinny Mini Quinoa Almond Joy Bars, our Quinoa Protein Bars, or even our Quinoa Crisp and Berry Parfait.
Use it as Salad Topping
Another fantastic way to incorporate quinoa into your diet is by using it as a salad topping. It adds a fantastic fiber and protein boost to any salad as well as amazing grainy texture. Because of it’s adaptive flavor, it can be incorporated into most salads, such as our Summer Fruit Quinoa Salad or our Cucumber Quinoa Salad With Ground Turkey, Olives, & Feta. You can throw it into or on top of any salad, though. Let us know if you try it with any other salad recipes in the comments, below!
Try a New Breakfast Grain
Last but not least, try adding quinoa into your breakfast rotation! It is super filling and will keep you energized all morning due to it’s high protein and fiber content. Plus, it just makes some really delicious dishes. Check out some of our quinoa breakfast recipes below!
- Quinoa Apple Breakfast Bowl
- Protein Quinoa Pancakes
- Quinoa and Egg Protein Breakfast Muffins
- Protein Blueberry Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
A quick note: you can swap out oats with quinoa in most recipes. Just mix in the other ingredients to your cooked grains and you’ll be all set!
Whether you go for a classic recipe, make it sweet, toss into a salad, or have it in the morning, you can be sure to find at least one way to make this fiber-full grain work for you. Let us know your favorite easy way to enjoy quinoa down in the comments– we love to hear it!
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