quinoa

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2005
quinoa
6
Sat, 07-05-2008 - 12:05pm

In my attempts to expand what I eat, I'm wondering where people buy quinoa, and what brands (if any) are preferred and why.


I already know it's pricey, so if there are places where cost is lower than others, that info would be appreciated, too.


TIA!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2007
In reply to: hccpraisedancer
Sat, 07-05-2008 - 12:23pm

I buy quinoa at my local organic food store, but if you have a Whole Foods near you, they also sell it there. I haven't found it in my regular grocery store, but Virginia isn't known for it's easy access to health foods, so they may have it where you live. I've only seen one brand called Ancient Harvest, which looks like this:


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2006
In reply to: hccpraisedancer
Sat, 07-05-2008 - 1:10pm
I buy mine at my regular grocery store, both in CA and here in TX. I've bought it at Kroger, Randall's, etc. I also generally buy the brand that Katy posted, though I've bought other brands too - they all taste the same to me. Its usually in the same section as the rice, barley, couscous, etc. Its my kid's favorite grain.


















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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2005
In reply to: hccpraisedancer
Sat, 07-05-2008 - 1:21pm

Thanks, Katy.


In addition to Meijer and Kroger, I have a Better Health store close by.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2005
In reply to: hccpraisedancer
Sat, 07-05-2008 - 1:25pm

Thanks MichaelAnn.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2007
In reply to: hccpraisedancer
Sat, 07-05-2008 - 1:54pm

I also wanted to mention that if you buy it in bulk, you'll need to rinse it really well before you cook it because it can be bitter. I just dump it into my strainer and rinse it for at least two minutes. Some of the prepackaged versions are pre-rinsed, so just make sure to read the package.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2006
In reply to: hccpraisedancer
Sat, 07-05-2008 - 4:05pm

To add to what Katy said about the rinsing - I rinse even the pre-packaged, just in case. The very first time I had it, I used a pre-packaged that was supposed to be pre-rinsed, but it was still kind of bitter. I don't know why, maybe it just wasn't rinsed well enough. So I always do my own, just in case.

My kids love it with a little olive oil, garlic and paremesan cheese mixed in right after its cooked. They also love it in cold salads - I toss it with various chopped up veggies (red bell pepper, shallot, carrot, artichoke hearts, olives - things you'd put in pasta salad), then a vinaigrette dressing and some feta or parmesan. We take a picnic lunch to the pool with us 3-4 days per week and this their #1 requested item!



















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