Help me use my quinoa

[Anonymous]

I bought a big bag of quinoa at Costco, and it turns out my family does not like quinoa. Any suggestions for ways to disguise it or gussy it up so it will appear to small children and a husband who is not gung-ho about health food?

[Anonymous]

Options are in NY times today!

[Anonymous]

Try toasting it b/f you cook it.

You can mix it in meatballs like you would breadcrumbs.

You can mix it in with chili.

You can prepare it like you would oatmeal for breakfast.

You can try making it and flavoring it with vinaigrette, tomatoes, and cukes like you would a cold cous cous salad.

[Anonymous]

My family recently devoured a huge bowl of quinoa prepared as follows:

Finely chop one or two shallots. Mix with a few teaspoons of red wine vinegar, pinch of salt, pinch of sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes.
Rinse can of black beans.
Dice a red pepper.

Combine shallots, black beans, and red pepper with quinoa. Add olive oil and salt.

This is infinitely flexible and you can add whatever you like. But my gang really liked it like this and ate mountains of it without complaint.

[Anonymous]

I substituted quinoa for orzo in some pasta salad recipes and it was great. It has a pretty neutral flavor so it benefits from strong favors to jazz it up.

I really like Ina garten's orzo with roasted vegetables recipe.

[Anonymous]

I second the NYT rec - awesome quinoa recipes

[Anonymous]

Quinoa pancakes are pretty yummy and a good way to use it up.

[Anonymous]

Maybe this isn't the kind of variation you're looking for, but I cook mine in chicken stock or broth with whatever diced veggies I have on hand (carrots, squash, zucchini, mushrooms, etc.), and then mix in a bunch of Parmesan cheese at the end. Easy and really, really good.

[Anonymous]

I use quinoa to extend/lighten up rich curry-style takeout dishes. So for example I'll get one order of veggie panang tofu but mix it 1:1 or even 1:2 with quinoa and make 3-4 meals out of it. The quinoa adds more nutrition than rice would, and restaurant style curry sauces are usually so rich that you can easily dilute them this way and still have great flavor.
Although, I will say, my picky 4 yo would rather eat just plain quinoa than have it in something.

[Anonymous]

Make sure you soak quinoa for 20 or so minutes before cooking. It can have a waxy coating that tastes bitter.

[Anonymous]

For the PP that suggested pancakes, can you link to a recipe?

[Anonymous]

Kale quinoa salad with dried cranberry and walnuts. Awesome cold dish for summer.

[Anonymous]

eh, I'm with your family on this one. I am in no way a picky eater but I just can not do quinoa. There is something strange about the texture that I just can't get past.

[Anonymous]

I make mine in the rice cooker with a can of diced tomatoes replacing some of the water. Add in smoked sausage and some veg to make it into kind of a jambalaya. Super tasty. DS also loves it with coconut oil and curry powder.

[Anonymous]

Google quinoa taco salad