Ayurvedic Grains – Highlight – Quinoa
Posted by Mary on Aug 24, 2009
Although it’s actually a seed, Quinoa is commonly classified as a grain. It has a light, delicate flavor. The grain is flat and oval with pointed ends. Varieties range from yellow to red, brown and black.
Quinoa is excellent for balancing Vata and in moderate quantities for balancing Kapha. Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra, our ayurvedic expert, considers quinoa one of the foremost sources of nutrition in a modern vegetarian ayurvedic diet. From the perspective of modern nutrition, quinoa contains more protein and more iron compared to other grains and is rich in potassium and riboflavin. It also contains other B vitamins–B6, niacin, and thiamin, is a good source of magnesium, zinc, copper, and manganese, and has some folate (folic acid).
Quinoa works well with vegetables, paneer (fresh cheese), lentils, nuts and ayurvedic spices.
Quinoa is available at health food stores and some supermarkets. Store the quinoa in a clean, tightly-sealed container in a cool, dry, dark place. Wash well by rinsing multiple times until the water runs clear before cooking.
