Quinoa article...

There's been a bit of discussion on here about quinoa - and today I got a good overview article on it from Livestrong.  Did you know that it's a complete protein?  Naturally gluten free?  And more???

Short article, but worth the read - includes basic cooking and usage tips:
www.livestrong.com/article/4695-need-health-benefits-quinoa/

Enjoy!
Karen

Thanks Karen.  Interesting article.  I became a fan after the eggplant experiment.  Considering Quinoa Jambalaya next....

Yay us!!!!  It is a seed - does that make it kosher for passover?!?!  hmmmm....have to check with the rabbis on that one - AND....I am not only spelling it right - I am pronouncing it right too!!!!!  YAY ME! :)

Thanks for posting this!

we use them for Passover.  We have not yet convinced our rabbi and his wife that they are ok, but they know we use them and have accepted it.  I think she believes us, but is leary of something different.

Thanks Lisa - that is enough for me - if you eat it at Pesach then I am good - now to convince Larry that it is a seed and therefore kosher!!!!! :)

I would have never known, but Sarah--my CONVERT friend and her very observant/kosher husband serve it yearly. 

You just tell Larry that I said so.. that should be enough!

It IS a seed! it says so in the article and I believe EVERYTHING I read on the internet! lol

Some kosher and Passover stuff I found...

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "chollent" stew!) You should be able to find it at most health food stores. Of course, it needs to be from a closed container that is new for Pesach.

And...

While quinoa was first imported to the United States from Chile in the 1980s, it was only deemed kosher for Passover in 1999 when Star-K’s Rabbi Shmuel Heinemann responded to a customer's inquiry. Rabbi Heinemann discovered that quinoa, a sesame-seed looking kernel reminiscent of rice, is not a grain. Quinoa is a member of the beet family. When Star-K tested quinoa to see if it would rise, they found that it actually decayed. Furthermore, Rabbi Heinemann determined that quinoa is not kitniyot. It does not grow in the vicinity of chometz and its growth does not resemble kitniyot. And it has no religious precedent included in the prohibition against kitniyot.

While I know what NONE of this means, it seems like quinoa is allowed for passover.

look who else is trying to join the "Jew Crew"!!

Great researching skills there Eric!

But it sounded so good...I was sure you knew what you were talking about....what?!?!?!  You didn't write this yourself!?!?!  Oh - I wonder why I thought that! :)