I've had a stash of quinoa tucked into my cupboards for about a year now, all along meaning to whip some up for a change of pace from my regular breakfast or dinner grains. Quinoa has such a great reputation, especially here on the internet, boasting of high protein content and the presence of all nine essential amino acids. I figured I was missing out on the greatest discovery ever, especially because it's a grain with protein (!), so yesterday morning I finally cooked it up according to Mark Bittman's "Batch of Softer Grains" recipe and, well...
to be honest,
I totally hated it.
The texture was seedy and strange; not like couscous where it clumps together into pleasant lumps, but like dry pieces of fertilizer all over my tongue. Chad came home for lunch and said the house smelled like "weird poop." We eventually traced the smell to the kitchen and my pot of leftover quinoa. Ha! Needless to say, he did not participate in a taste test.
I'm not hating on any of you who have totally embraced quinoa into your diet--I haven't completely ruled it out of my life yet--but I just wanted to be honest about my first run-in with it. I thought about lying and saying that I loved it--just to fit in. But I just couldn't do it. Now, there are other more colorful varieties of quinoa and, of course, other ways of preparing it. I tried the white kind and prepared it with just water, topped with mixed berries, honey, and cinnamon. I usually make my oatmeal or grain cereal with milk, and I usually make couscous with chicken broth. Maybe the quinoa just needed more flavor? Maybe I'd like it more if it were tossed with a salad?
Have you come across a lovely quinoa recipe that you can't live without?
For breakfast or for dinner?
(Recipes saved to your "To Try" board on Pinterest don't count.)
I'm all ears.
I kind of like that my porridge adventure was a total failure, though, because the recipe I was following (see below) recommends experimenting with different grains to find your favorites. Sure, quinoa may not have made that list for me, but I know I love rolled oats and the 10-grain cereal from the Winco bulk bins. Maybe I'll enjoy barley or buckwheat. Or maybe I'll just end up sticking with the ones I already know I like!
The point is, I'm going to experiment. You never know if you'll absolutely love (or despise) something until you plop some on your taste buds and, as MJ would say, let it simmer for a minute.
Grains to try:
- bulgur
- red/black quinoa
- oat groats
- buckwheat groats
- millet
- cracked wheat
- hominy
- whole rye
- kamut
- wheat berries
Grains I Already Love:
- steel-cut oats
- rolled oats
- farina
- brown rice
- wild rice
- couscous
What grains do you come back to again and again?
Batch of Softer Grains
from The Food Matters Cookbook
2 cups grain (or 1 1/2 cups wheat berries)
Salt, optional
Rinse the grains in a strainer and put in a large pot along with a big pinch of salt. Add enough water to cover by about 1 1/2 inches. Bring to a boil, then adjust the heat so the mixture bubbles gently.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the grains are very tender and have burst; this will take anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour, depending on the grain (note: Google the grain you've chosen for cook time). If you want your grains on the soupy side, add more boiling water liberally as the grains cook; if you want drier grains, add just enough boiling water to keep the grains submerged.
When the grains are starchy and thick, like porridge, cover and remove from the heat; you can let it sit for up to 20 minutes.
Serve hot or at room temperature, or put in a sealed container to store in the fridge for up to a week.
Topping Ideas from Bittman (Savory and Sweet):
Olive oil, butter, or flavored oils
Cooked vegetables like peas, chopped greens, broccoli, or cauliflower
A couple spoonfuls of sauce, like tomato sauce or pesto
A sprinkling of chopped fresh herbs
Any cooked beans
Dried fruit
Cooked mushrooms, onions, garlic, ginger, or shallots
Cooked chopped sausage, bacon, ham, or any cooked meat or fish
Spices, like cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom, or spice blends like curry or chili powder
Grated hard cheese or crumbled soft cheese
Hard-boiled, poached, or fried eggs
A drizzle of soy sauce
Salt and pepper
Honey, sugar, or maple syrup
Chopped fresh or dried fruit
Chopped nuts or seeds, or a spoonful of nut butter
Vanilla extract
A splash of milk or cream
Shredded, unsweetened coconut or a splash of coconut milk