Quinoa

O M Goodness!!! We just tried quinoa in a recipe and I have to say it was like eating bird seed.  I'm not sure if it's the taste (cuz I'm  pretty sure it doesn't really have a taste) or the texture that put us off, but I'm pretty sure I won't be having it again.  Maybe the birds will eat it!!!

Shannon

 How did you cook it? I eat it all the time and I must admit I've never experienced this bird seed phenomenon I keep hearing about.

Here's a guide on cooking quinoa that I wrote in case it's helpful to anyone:

http://bariatricfoodie.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-to-cook-quin oa.html 

And a few recipes:

Spicy Quinoa/Beans:  http://bariatricfoodie.blogspot.com/2012/03/niks-spicy-or-no t-quinoa-beans.html 

Tangy Salmon & Quinoa:  http://bariatricfoodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/tangy-spicy-salm on-quinoa.html 

Mediterranean Shrimp & Quinoa:  http://bariatricfoodie.blogspot.com/2010/02/meatless-fridays -two-for-price-of-one.html 

Hey Nik, I cooked it with some black beans, onion, bell pepper, cumin, chili powder, salt, and chicken stock.  I let it coo****il all the liquid was absorbed and the white "ring" was visible.  It felt like little balls in my mouth....kinda like sesame seeds but wet.  I may have to try it again with something else, but I can tell you my DH won't be eating it again lol.

SHannon

There's something to be said for simply not liking something. That's your right! Just wanted to make sure it wasn't a mishap.

I usually cook it about that long too so perhaps everything did go right. I usually turn the heat off and let it sit about 20 minutes with the lid on and mine gets very tender but, yes, the texture is different. Unlike rice, which is a grain, quinoa is a seed. So it's not going to be exactly like rice unfortunately.

I found it had that texture/feeling when it wasn't all the way cooked. also the tails can put a lot of people off too. i still think it's heaven and am waiting to try it again after surgery!

maybe when it's not 900 degrees in my house I will consider turning the stove on

sounds to me as if it wasn't fully cooked. It shouldn't have felt like "little balls" in your mouth. My quinoa has a texture similar to wild rice (which technically isn't rice, either...but a grass seed). A bit nuttier and a bit more "tooth" than rice, but not firm enough to feel like little balls, at all. Try it again and this time, cook it longer. You might find you like it after all.