quinoa, what is it? also Arborto rice

reading my new healthy cookbooks came across a recipe in "grains" that called for quinoa.  I like to buy new things occasionally.  Do most ppl like this item?

Also have another recipe that has Arborto rice and said its creamier so that makes up, in taste, for it being low fat.  Does anyone else like this?  Personally don't eat rice very often cause of the calories,

So far have only had to throw out one new thing.  A Hoisen sauce, that I hated.

thank you

I have never tried arborto rice, but quinoa is delicious. They are really small grain things, that are pretty soft when cooked. They go absolutely great in salads too.

Funny, we just bought some at the grocery store last night for the first time.

I've been told it is like Couscous but bigger grains.   I'm going to fix it tomorrow for dinner so I can report back then to let you know if it is as yummy as people are saying.  :-)

By chance, are you actually thinking of arborio rice?  If so, it's a medium-grain,  firm Italian rice that's usually used in risotto.  It's delicious cooked with mushrooms, onion and white wine!  

Quinoa is a grain that was originally cultivated by the Incas.  It has a slightly nutty flavor and can be used in a lot of the places that you would usually use rice.  It's really high in fiber. I enjoy it a lot.

Quinoa is probably the healthiest grain available, and quite versatile - I love the stuff.  There are lot of recipes here on CC plus.

And I think you might be thinking of Arborio rice, which is mainly used for risotto.  I like risotto, but I try to limit my rice comsumption to brown rice.  (Although, I'm getting away from rice altogether since I've discovered quinoa.)

Quinoa is delicius.  It needs to be washed though, if you didn't buy the prewashed kind.  It's also high in protein, and is considered a "superfood".  Here's a link to my favorite quinoa recipe.  Enjoy!

Cous cous is actually made with pasta dough and quinoa is an actual whole grain.  I guess they look similar but they are not quite the same thing at all.

 

Quinoa is good but make sure you rinse it well, otherwise it has a strange taste (because of a chemical the plant produces to keep birds away.) 

I too love quinoa. I make it often to use as a substitute for rice. I love the flavor. I mix a little milk and brown sugar in it and warm up the left overs for a great warm breakfast.

I tried some amaranth too. It was great in my quick bread recipe. I haven't done much else with it though.

i love quinoa, you can do so much with it. You can eat it warm or cold and cook it with so different veggys. my favorite is eating it cold with diced tomatoes and green onions with lemon juice. sooo good. i def recommend it.

 

yes, the rice is actually ARBORIO.  (sorry).

I'm hoping I can find the quinoa when I go to the store.  Sounds good.

thanks everyone.

If you go to a food specialty store, or an Italian market, you're very likely to find brown Arborio rice--I've got some. When making it into risotto you need to stir it almost constantly, so it is rather irksome to stand and stir for 40 minutes, but it's tasty enough to be worth it! Yum!

food speciality store? oh no.  That means I may have to wait to buy it as I'm out in rural country.   

Original Post by ohio45:

reading my new healthy cookbooks came across a recipe in "grains" that called for quinoa. I like to buy new things occasionally. Do most ppl like this item?

Also have another recipe that has Arborto rice and said its creamier so that makes up, in taste, for it being low fat. Does anyone else like this? Personally don't eat rice very often cause of the calories,

So far have only had to throw out one new thing. A Hoisen sauce, that I hated.

thank you

 I love Arborio rice.  It is the most common rice used in making risotto.  I make mushroom risotto, it is very filling and tastes like that you eating something that should be very high-cal but it isn't!  This is the recipe I use. Mushroom risotto (new window).  

I don't really cook with quinoa much, but I like when my husband makes it.  It is pretty filling too.

Now I can't wait to try the Arborio rice & mushrooms.  Sounds great.

I like to mix quinoa with red lentils, pine nuts and a few veggies and adding some Indian spices.  It is so filling and so yummy.  Though I've found that some broths don't taste well with the quinoa so I've stuck with using water when cooking it.  But it might just be my taste buds.

Bleurgh. I used to watch you are what you eat and Gillian McKeith always recommended quinoa and the people on the show were always like "ew, its making me feel sick!" But they said that about fruit and veg too and I thought how bad can a grain be but when I cooked it it had a horrible vinegary smell and really did make me feel sick. I threw it away and the smell lingered in the kitchen for days continuing to make me feel ill. What did I do wrong?

I'm not a "keen-wah" (quinoa) fan. I had it a few times and didn't like the texture... I know it's got lots of healthiness to it, but it's not for me. If I'm looking for a rice replacement I'll use bulgar wheat.

You can just buy medium grain rice to use in risotto. I think it works fine, just doesn't have the fancy name, Arborio, so it's usually less expensive.

what food section will the guinoa be in?  Obviously the Arborio is in the rice section.

so....the quinoa doesn't sound very good now.  If it doesn't cost much I'll still buy it to try.............if I don't eat it, the birds will. (maybe)

Haha, I seem to remember my mum putting it out for the birds and having to clear it up again cos it didn't get eaten!

ohio, (I'm assuming you're also from there), it's available in the organic section at the Giant Eagle near me (Columbus, near campus).  I believe it's about $3-4 per box.

melonhoney;  thanks.  I shop at G.E a lot, but the small, older store in my village, doesn't carry most of the things the bigger stores do and no organic section.  But, I go to a bigger city often to shop, so will look for it there, but not even sure I want it now, its sounding less and less appealing.