Trader Joe's Organic Quinoa

Brand: Trader Joe's

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Product Name: Organic Quinoa

Location/Cost Info: Trader Joe's website (why oh why isn't there a Trader Joe's in Colorado?!?)



Total From A to Z: 4.5 Stars

A's Review: * * * * *
This is quinoa. It's tasty. We made this batch with white wine as the liquid, which overwhelmed the already-subtle quinoa flavor. We'll have to tweak the mixture a bit but we'll find the right combination of flavors to go with it.

Z's Review: * * * *
This is a lovely, mild quinoa that would go with just about anything. We actually ended up eating this quinoa instead of rice with a couple of Indian dishes and it was delicious and satisfying. We experimented with this quinoa. We've heard that quinoa is more flavorful if cooked with chicken broth or white wine. For this batch we tried white wine and we have to admit that it was a tiny bit too wine-y! Perhaps half wine and half water would have given it a little kick without making us feel like we were eating wine-flavored grain! Or chicken broth is always a good option.

Ancient Harvest's Traditional Quinoa

Brand: Ancient Harvest Quinoa Corporation

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~ This item is in A&Z's Store!

Product Name: Traditional Quinoa

Location Purchased: King Soopers

Cost: $6.29 for 12 oz box

Total From A to Z: 4 Stars

A's Review: * * * *
Quinoa by itself is rather plain with a slight crunch and a subtle nutty flavor, but it can be an excellent compliment to other foods. This time, we had it with grilled salmon and asparagus and getting a bite with all three flavors together was really tasty. Making it with chicken broth adds just a hint of flavor.

Z's Review: * * * *
This traditional quinoa wasn't as nutty and flavorful as the Inca Red quinoa. It was a much more basic flavor that I think would go well as a side dish with a variety of dinners. It was light and fresh and healthy-tasting. And the leftovers reheated nicely for dinner the next day!

Ancient Harvest's Inca Red Quinoa

Brand: Ancient Harvest Quinoa Corporation
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~ This item is in A&Z's Store!

Product Name: Inca Red Quinoa

Location Purchased: King Soopers

Cost: $6.29 for 12 oz box

Total From A to Z: 4 Stars

A's Review: * * * *
For many people, I would guess quinoa is something new. It is most like cous cous, but contains no wheat. It also lacks the heaviness of risotto, which is definitely a good thing in this case. For starters, it is really easy to prepare. 1 part quinoa, 2 parts water, but vegetable or chicken broth can be substituted. I used 1 cup of quinoa with 2 cups of chicken broth, because I like the flavor that it adds and I was hedging my bets in case the quinoa itself was bland. Bring it to a boil, then cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed. I loved that it did not need babysitting. It can also be made in a rice cooker, which I guess would make it even less labor intensive. All of this yielded 4-5 good sized servings of slightly crunchy, nutty, goodness. The look of it is exotic enough to give it built-in presentation value, which is a nice bonus. I would gladly make and eat this again, for myself or company.

Z's Review: * * * *
This was the first time I've ever eaten quinoa, so I can't really judge the merits of this particular type of quinoa. (Perhaps we'll try more quinoa in the future and we'll be able to update this post!) I found that this quinoa made a really nice side dish - we had it with baked salmon and asparagus. As compared to similar side dishes, like couscous or risotto, quinoa was a lot more flavorful on its own. It sort of had a nutty, grainy flavor, but at the same time reminded me a little bit of sprouts. While it was filling, there was also something very light and fresh and healthy-tasting about it, which I really enjoyed. The texture was also pleasing. It has a little bit of a crunch, meaning you actually had to chew it. Couscous and risotto are almost mushy in comparison. All in all I really enjoyed this quinoa and I would certainly use it as a side dish again in the future. (But beware! Quinoa doesn't stick together like risotto and those pieces are little! If you knock that bowl over you'll have little bits everywhere!)