Superfoods: Quinoa

I was watching #GourmetFarmer on #sbs and they featured Tasmanian-grown Quinoa in their 'local farm to plate' menu.

They travelled to Kindred, Tasmania and interviewed the lovely people from Kindred Organics who showed them the plants and gave them tips on how to cook it.

" Lauran and Henriette Damen are the first farmers in Australia to successfully grow the South American "superfood" quinoa, and they're doing it organically. This will be their third crop and the Damens are marketing and packaging their crop themselves. Enquiries by email or telephone."

What interested me is that they suggested using the green part of the plant. I purchased some Quinoa seeds and I'm interested in learning more about this superfood which is an amazing gluten-free grain my friend Kerrie Campbell told me about back in 2000.

 I've had gluten-free Quinoa pasta and eaten it like rice but I am now determined to trial a range of recipes I found on the Kindred Organics site tonight.

Quinoa with Beetroot Salad

2 cups of Quinoa

500g beetroot

250g apples

raw sugar

1 small onion diced

2 spoons of apple or wine vinegar

2 teaspoons mustard and cinnamon

salt and pepper (optional)

Cook beetroot unpeeled.

Cool down, peel and cut in pieces you like,

Wash and cook Quinoa.

Put in raw sugar and diced apple, vinegar, cinnamon and mustard. Add salt and pepper if you like.

Quinoa Fruit Crumble

1/4 cup Almonds

1/4 cup Pumpkin seeds/pepitas

1/4 cup sunflower kernels

1/4 cup sesame seeds 1/4 cup Linseed

1/4 cup Coconut

1/2 cup Quinoa cooked and well drained

1/8-1/4 cup Raw sugar

45g Butter  

Mix first 5 ingredients in food processor.

Mix butter and sugar add all other ingredients.

Place on top of fruit and bake in moderate oven for 30 min or until top is golden  

Fruit (whatever you have in season or in your pantry) it is your choice what fruit you use.

Rolled oats can be used if your not glutenfree.      

Quinoa with Vegie Stirfry

2 cups of Quinoa

1 onion

1 garlic

1 medium carrot

1 broccoli

1 leek

Azuki /green beans or any other vegetable season available

some vegetable stock

mild curry, kummel, coriader, nutmeg and parsley

Wash and cook 2 cups Quinoa.

Stirfry onion and garlic.

Add carrot slices/sticks, brocoli and leek.

Little later add vegetable stock and herbs let simmer for 5/10min

Quinoa leaves can be used for base on plate or in any salad.

Quinoa Salad

2 cups Quinoa

400ml  chicken stock or vegetable

4 tomatoes, diced

1 cucumber,  diced

corn

rasp carrots

snowpeas in slices

spring onions

finely chopped parsley

3 tbs olive oil

3 tbs lemon juice

1 clove crushed garlic

salt and pepper to taste

add mint if you like

Wash Quinoa.

Cook Quinoa in chicken or vegetable stock 10/12 min till stock is absorbed, fluff with fork regularly.

Cool down.  

Combine first 6 ingredients.

Combine last 3 ingredients, pour over salad.

If you have some tasty recipes with Quinoa or know where I can buy Australian-grown Quinoa in Australia, please let me know.

 Kindred Organics
Lauran and Henriette Damen
Phone: (03) 6429 3202
Kindred, Tas
email:  laurandamen@activ8.net.au 

Found it at Santos organic store http://santostrading.com.au/bulkfood/grain_seed.html