How To Make The Best Quinoa In Town

The Basics of Quinoa

I make the best accomplishment. 

1. Make your life easy and buy a rice cooker. (Elana’s Flavor Base:

   These measurements are guidelines! The only way to be sure it’s perfect is to taste and adjust. 

   For 1 cup uncooked “>olive oil

2. 1 scant teaspoon salt
3. ½ -1 teaspoon soy sauce or wheat-free tamari*
4. 4 sprays or ½ teaspoon Braggs Amino Acids* (if you don’t have, add another ¼ teaspoon soy sauce or tamari)
5. ½-1 teaspoon coconut aminos* (if you don’t have, add another ¼ teaspoon soy sauce or tamari and ¼-½ teaspoon salt.)
6. juice and zest of one “>shop for these items here

   First add the olive oil and salt and stir to coat grains. Next add the soy sauce or tamari, Braggs and Coconut Aminos. 

   Taste and Adjust: 

   • Like the lemon but want more? Add more! 
   • Want a little more sweet/salty flavor? Add more soy sauce, Braggs and/or Coconut Aminos.
   • Too salty? Add more lemon and olive oil. 
   • Not enough flavor? Add more salt. 

   The Art of Garnishing Quinoa

   Here are the tricks for garnishing quinoa:

   • Quinoa is delicate, not only in flavor but also because each grain is just so tiny! Don’t garnish it with heavy things like beans, canned corn or chicken. 
   • Fresh herbs go a long way in quinoa. 
   • So do toasted pine nuts.

   Here are some of my favorite add-ins for quinoa. Use what you have in the house to throw together a delicious quinoa dish. 

   (For 1 cup uncooked “>parsley

7. “>basil
8. “>avocado cut into cube sized pieces
9. a handful of toasted pine nuts
10. roasted “>radicchio cut into very thin slaw

Once the quinoa is dressed with its flavor base, add your garnishing ingredients. It is possible your add-ins will dull the pizazz of the quinoa at first, so TASTE the quinoa after and add to the flavor base if needed. 

How to Spruce Up Leftover Quinoa:

I like to eat quinoa as soon as it is done, but if I let it sit for a few hours or put the leftovers in the fridge, the flavor can get dull. Add a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of salt and an extra squeeze of fresh lemon. 

Elana’s Favorite Go-To Quinoa Throw-Togethers:

Quinoa Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts and Fresh Mint

Basically what I do at home when I have nothing else in the house to eat.

• cooked “>mint leaves, chopped
• 1 large handful fresh Italian “>quinoa (from 1 dry cup)
• Elana’s Flavor Base
• 1 handful of fresh Italian “>cilantro, freshly chopped
• 1 bunch bite-sized roasted “>avocado, cut into cubes
• 1 handful toasted pine nuts

The Smarty Quinoa

I made this one night for a panel discussion event for “>quinoa (from 1 dry cup)

11. Elana’s Flavor Base
12. 1 small handful of fresh “>cilantro, freshly chopped
13. 1 small handful fresh “>tomatoes, quartered
14. 1 handful toasted pine nuts
15. 1 “>Quinoa Tabouli with Four Fresh Herbs

     

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