Keen for Quinoa?

This tasty dinner is a great one for quinoa lovers and those of you who are interested in trying a new grain.

Quinoa is gluten-free and a good source of dietary fibre and protein. In fact, it contains all essential amino acids – these are the ones that our bodies cannot produce and so must be obtained through diet. This is fabulous for vegetarians and vegans (omit the feta)

Quinoa is low in fat and contains mostly beneficial Omega 6 polyunsaturated fats. It also contains good amounts of B group vitamins and Vitamins C and E.

Quinoa is rich in minerals such as iron, copper, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, manganese, calcium. Side note: quinoa also contains compounds known as phytates that can reduce the absorption of iron, magnesium, calcium and zinc. This is true of many grains and legumes and should be considered when planning meals for people wanting to boost their iron intake. Consider adding a meat, fish or poultry product as these contain a special peptide that helps absorb iron from non-animal sources (not to mention that they are great sources of iron themselves).

For vegetarians Vitamin C should be included in the meal to help enhance iron absorption. Luckily for you guys, this recipe contains parsley which is a great source of Vitamin C. Score!

Finally, quinoa also contains phytosterols and flavonoids. You may have heard of phytosterols, as they have been incorporated into margarine products that help to lower cholesterol. Flavonoids are antioxidants and may help in immune function.

This beauty is a recipe from Yotam Ottolenghi’s Plenty More. It is a savoury dish which makes us feel all kinds of righteous all while eating something that tastes awesome. That's a win-win.

There are recipes out there for sweetened quinoa porridge if you are looking for something in the breakfast arena. Have an explore and enjoy.