Today, our two local experts provide tips on preparing quinoa, as well a couple of their favorite quinoa recipes.
Due to a natural, harmless but bitter coating called saponins that is present on quinoa, both advise rinsing it before cooking it.
Recipes
Laura McAlpine, a Springboro resident and registered dietician at Dayton Children’s Hospital shares her two favorite quinoa recipes: Breakfast Quinoa and Chocolate Chip Quinoa Cookies.
BREAKFAST QUINOA
Ingredients
2 cups lowfat skim milk
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup fresh blueberries
Directions:
In a small saucepan, bring milk to a boil. Add quinoa and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until most of the milk has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. Stir in sugar and cinnamon. Cook, covered, until almost all of the milk has been absorbed, about 8 minutes. Stir in blueberries and cook for 30 seconds. Serve with additional milk, cinnamon and blueberries, if desired.
CHOCOLATE CHIP QUINOA COOKIES
Ingredients
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup natural peanut butter
¼ cup honey
1 egg
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp vanilla
½ cup chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the first six ingredients. Mix until well blended. Add in chocolate chips. Using a tablespoon, drop cookies onto the lined baking sheet. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cookies to sit in the pan for 2 minutes. Move to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
— SOURCE: Laura McAlpine, registered dietician with Dayton Children’s Hospital
Winter Salad
Chelsea Caito, a registered dietician/weight loss coach and assistant department head of nutrition at Lifetime Fitness in Mason, offers one of her favorite quinoa recipes:
WINTER SALAD
Ingredients
1 cup multicolored quinoa, cooked
2 cups roasted squash cubes
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 green onions, minced
½ cup toasted pumpkin seeds
½ cup dried cranberries
1 tablespoon fresh sage
Zest and juice of one orange
¼ cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Let quinoa cook to room temperature, toss all ingredients in a large bowl. Serve over greens (kale, spinach)
— SOURCE: Chelsea Caito, registered dietician/weight loss coach and assistant department head of nutrition at Lifetime Fitness in Mason
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