Keen on trying Quinoa but don’t know where to start (let alone pronounce!) with this superfood? We’ve got your back…check out these three recipes that’ll have even your toughest critics singing your praises.

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is an ancient seed that came from the Andes Mountains. It was a staple of the Inca diet for its nutritive value and delicious nutty flavor. It is one of the highest plant based protein foods we can eat. Plus, quinoa is a complete protein, meaning it provides all nine essential amino acids necessary for good health. In fact, your body can’t produce these, so you have to eat them.

Quinoa is chock full of antioxidants, B vitamins, iron, calcium, minerals, lysine, magnesium, and manganese to name a few. It is full of fiber which makes you feel fuller for longer, and keeps the digestive tract…well…on track.

It’s versatile too, so you can use it instead of any starch – rice in stir fry, as a side dish instead of potatoes, thrown in a salad, or even as a pasta substitute. You can find it in the rice aisle at the supermarket or even order it online!

Tricks of the Quinoa Trade (aka tips)

• Rinse it well using a fine strainer. There is a bitter coating on the tiny seed that needs to be rinsed away otherwise it’ll taste funny.
• Use stock instead of water to cook it for more flavor.
• Don’t overcook it.
• Fluff it up! After you drain it, return it to the pan you cooked it in, cover it, and let it rest for 15 minutes. This will dry it and give you that delicious light, fluffy texture.

Now you know how to cook it, try these delicious recipes to get in on the goodness of quinoa!

Quinoa for breakfast

Blueberry coconut quinoa porridge

What you need:

• 1 cup of uncooked quinoa
• 1.5 cups of almond or coconut milk
• 1 cup of water
• 2 tsp of brown sugar
• ½ tsp of cinnamon
• ½ tsp of almond extract
• Blueberries
• Coconut flakes
• Slivered almonds

What you do:

1. Put coconut milk, uncooked quinoa, water, cinnamon, almond extract and brown sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil.Reduce to a simmer and cover for 15 minutes to absorb the liquid.
2. Serve in bowls and top with blueberries, coconut flakes, and almonds.
3. Enjoy!

Quinoa for lunch

Green bean and quinoa salad

What you need:

• 2 cups of cooked quinoa
• ¾ pound of cooked green beans
• 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup of toasted sesame seeds
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Lemon juice to taste

What you do:

1. Place quinoa, green beans and olive oil in a large salad bowl. Toss to coat. Add sesame seeds, salt, pepper and lemon juice to finish.
2. Enjoy!

Quinoa for dinner

Quinoa Burrito Bowls

What you need:

• 3 cups of cooked quinoa
• 1 can of black beans (drained)
• 1 can of corn kernels
• 1 tablespoon of ground cumin
• 1 cup of salsa
• 1 sliced avocado
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cilantro to finish
• Option: add grilled chicken

What you do:

1. Place quinoa, black beans and corn into a large fry pan and cook until quinoa starts to toast and become crunchy. Add cumin and stir.
2. Add salsa and cook for another 3-4 minutes until the quinoa starts to dry out a little bit. Remove from heat and let stand for 6-8 minutes. Fluff.
3. Serve and top with sliced avocado and cilantro. Option: add grilled chicken.