TravelTalkOnline Forums People Talk Recipes Quinoa??? pronunced (KEEN-wa)...

OK, we bought a bag of QUINOA last week, and I made the most popular recipe I could find for it...
Curried Quinoa with frozen peas... It cooks like rice...
Well, it was like your typical Health Food! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Sick.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Sick.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Sick.gif" alt="" />
Deb & I each ate about 1/2 cup... and it really tasted like $hit... neither of us liked it at all...
I was about to throw away the leftovers when Deb said...
"wait, why not try it in a meatloaf and we have all that burger meat in the freezer"???
WOW!
It was excellent!
I added a can of Vacuume Packed Corn, a can of sliced mushrooms, a chopped onion & a can of green chilies...
and about a cup of cottage cheese...
Mixed that with 2 large eggs and 1# Buffalo Burger & 1# 80% regular burger... plus S&P...
What a way to take a really crappy dish and make a great meatloaf!
only caviat... the Quinoa does not bind the meatloaf as do breadcrumbs...
(Quinoa is very high in protein, and does not bind well)...
so it kind of fell apart when slicing, even after 30 minutes of "resting"...
but the flavor blends in the meatloaf tasted fantastic!

Quinoa is definitely an acquired taste! I usually make a pilaf using chicken stock and some aromatics. It's good with some toasted nuts added. the quinoa itself doesn't have much of a flavor. Also, it can be bitter if you don't rinse it well before you cook it. The meatloaf idea was definitely a great use!!

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

I also thought it was horrible the first and only time I made it. Great idea to re-use it. I threw mine out.

Evandnic (too lazy to log in)

I always wonder why everythinng that's good for you has to taste so bad?
and everything that tastes really good is so bad for you?

It just depends on your point of view. I love lots of things that are good for me. Granted, I like butter more....

Thanks for the warning! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> I bought some and haven't made it yet. I'll be sure to 'doctor' it up a bit!


<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> Contessa

Georgia, I do agree...
but the finer things in life are always the worst for you...
and always the highest in calories!
Just look at a CINNABON ! 730 calories per!
but they are Ohhhhh so good with a cup of coffee!
I haven't had one in about 7-8 years...

Brian, But they do have 1.5 Gms of fiber! Oh how I would love to have one of them right now.

Great! I was looking for a healty excuse to get another one day! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Brian, Go for it and take your statin drug in the morning! I just realized why my post finally went through. I listed the drug called L------. My bad! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />