Quinoa is highly appreciated for its properties.
Quinoa is a word that is not part of the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) , which does accept, however, the notion quinoa . This concept, originating in Quechua Kínua, refers to a plant whose seeds and leaves can be eaten .
Chenopodium quinoa , as is the scientific name of the plant , is cultivated in the Andean region ( Bolivia , Ecuador , Colombia , Argentina , Peru and Chile ) and in the United States . The largest producer internationally, according to various statistics, is Bolivia .
Historians believe that quinoa was among the most important foods for pre-Columbian people. It then lost popularity in various regions until, in recent years, it had a resurgence.
Benefits of quinoa
The amino acids present in quinoa grains make it a very interesting food from a nutritional aspect. They can be consumed cooked like cereal or in soups , or made into flour . Quinoa grains, on the other hand, are used to produce alcoholic beverages through fermentation .
Among the most important benefits attributed to eating quinoa are these:
- It does not contain gluten , making it an interesting food for people who suffer from celiac disease.
- It allows you to lose weight by eating healthy, since it has a low glycemic index.
- It is a great source of iron .
- It should not be overlooked that it helps control cholesterol .
- It serves to combat constipation since it has high levels of fiber .
The nutritional benefits of quinoa have even made the United Nations ( UN ) recommend its intake. Carbohydrates such as starch, different types of proteins, vitamins and minerals are part of these grains which, on the other hand, have a low level of fat.
It is possible to consume quinoa in different ways.
Your preparation
Another of the great advantages that quinoa brings with it, in addition to those already mentioned, is that it can be cooked in an endless number of ways. However, among the most significant and tasty are found in warm salad and soup. Among the recipes that most people prepare in the world with quinoa are risotto , stuffed peppers, tabbouleh, tofu and quinoa croquettes or with fish and seaweed.
It is also important to know how to prepare it to ensure that it has the right flavor and so that the person who takes it can enjoy the benefits it offers. To do this, you must keep in mind that it must be cooked with three parts water to one part quinoa, that once on the heat it must boil for a maximum of fifteen minutes and that it must be served immediately after it has been removed from the heat in order to enjoy it. of all its flavor to the maximum.
It is important to keep in mind that, due to the presence of saponin , quinoa can have a quite bitter taste in certain preparations. To avoid this taste, it is necessary to eliminate this toxin by washing or peeling the seed.