Broccoli Quinoa

Broccoli,a vegetable which is available throughout the year was originally cultivated in Italy. The best way to cook this is stir-fry or steam because heavy cooking might destroy some of the anti oxidants in it. However it emits a sulfuric odor just like the cauliflower and cabbage while cooking so, for few people its not a favorite vegetable untilof course they are fully aware of the health benefits.
I don't want to go on and on with the amount of vitamins and minerals in it because I am sure every one knows that eating broccoli is good for health and its vibrant green color is a major clue that tells you how good it is for that body. But some of the interesting facts that I read about broccoli is the amount of calcium in one bunch is equal to one glass of milk. And looks like it also helps in promoting weight loss because its rich in fiber content and works wonders for digestive system. Now that's something to take note of. Just like the cauliflower, broccoli is a gas producing food so to reduce it, its is suggested to eat along with ginger or garlic.

Quinoa (pronounced as keen-wah) is not a grain; its a seed related to the spinach family which was originally from South America. It was a regular Incas diet. It is a delicious whole grain that's easy to digest and an excellent replacement for rice. Some of the nutritional fact about Quinoa are; they are high in amino acids, protein and calcium. It is found to be more satiating than wheat or rice, so helps in weight loss.

The coating of the saponin on the seeds gives it a bitter taste, so it needs to be washed before cooking. Basic method to cook is to boil 1 cup of quinoa with 2 cups of water for 15 minutes. It absorbs all the water and the size of the seed will increase, with a tender and springy texture. Quinoa can be enjoyed as porridge for breakfast or salad with vegetable and many other items.

Ingredients:
2 cup Quinoa, cooked in 4 cups of water.
1 tbsp oil
1/2 lb broccoli floret
2 tsp dry or fresh oregano
1 tbsp chili paste
1/2 cup mint leaves
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup roasted almond
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Method:
1. Heat oil in a wok and add chopped broccoli and cook until soft or for about 10 minutes.
2. Add oregano and chili paste.


3. In a food processor grind mint,garlic, Parmesan cheese and roasted almonds. Add water if needed.4. Add the grind paste to the wok and cook for another 5 minutes and finally add the cooked Quinoa. Sprinkle salt and pepper before serving.

COOK'S FILE:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: Taste before adding salt because most cheese have salt in it.