{"id":379,"date":"2009-09-03T10:17:58","date_gmt":"2009-09-03T14:17:58","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2016-01-16T22:24:11","modified_gmt":"2016-01-17T03:24:11","slug":"cooking-quinoa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.allergy-details.com\/food-allergy\/cooking-quinoa\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooking Quinoa"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"washing<\/p>\n

Cooking quinoa is easy, but there is an important step you must follow, or you risk developing a sensitivity or allergy<\/a> to quinoa.<\/p>\n

Quinoa is a very nutritious grain, and an ideal food as part of a gluten free diet<\/a>.\u00a0 It is very popular with celiacs<\/a> and those with a gluten allergy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, a small minority of people report becoming sick after eating quinoa<\/a>, usually after consuming it for some time.\u00a0 This is a real shame, as quinoa is very tasty, extremely nutritious, and easy to cook.\u00a0 It is versatile, and can be used in many ways.<\/p>\n

The most likely problem is saponin, which protects the plant from insect and fungal attack.\u00a0 This is a soapy substance which can be washed out of the quinoa pseudograin<\/a>.\u00a0 It has a bitter taste, and possible minor toxic effects.<\/p>\n

Because of the bitter taste and possible toxicity, it is important that you wash out most <\/em>saponin before cooking the quinoa.\u00a0 It certainly is not a very dangerous substance, nor is it as bitter as fish bile, so you do not have to take the same care with washing your quinoa as you would with preparing a puffer fish or something.<\/p>\n

Washing Quinoa<\/h2>\n

There are several ways to wash quinoa.<\/p>\n

You can put it into a sieve, one with a fine enough mesh to trap even the smallest seeds.\u00a0 Then run it under the tap, shaking the sieve gently from side to side, until the water runs clear.<\/p>\n

Or you can immerse the sieve in a big bowl of water.\u00a0 Rub the seeds with your fingers to help shift the saponin.\u00a0 Repeat two or three times until the water is clear and no foam forms on the surface.<\/p>\n

Or you can put the quinoa in a blender with some water, and pulse it a few times to agitate the mixture, but not actually chop up the seeds.\u00a0 Drain it through a sieve.<\/p>\n

Cooking Quinoa<\/h2>\n

Put quinoa in a pot, with water in a 1:2 ratio (twice as much water).\u00a0 It takes approximately 12 minutes to cook.\u00a0 Allow a little longer (15 minutes or so) if cooking with other acidic ingredients.<\/p>\n

A dash of salt brings out the flavor, although some people prefer to cook without salt and are used to the reduced flavor.<\/p>\n

\n

Internal Links<\/h3>\n