Quinoa
A tiny seed that eats like a grain, and it's a complete protein.
Why I love it
Light, fluffy and quick, it's the base of a hundred bowls and salads, and a warm breakfast cereal too. One of the few plant foods with all nine essential amino acids.
Buying it
Any color works, white is fluffiest, red and black hold their shape. Buy in bulk; it keeps for months.
Storing it
Dry in a sealed jar in the pantry; cooked, five days in the fridge and it freezes well. Cool it completely before storing.
Using it
Rinse first (it removes a bitter coating), then simmer 15 minutes for a fluffy base, a breakfast cereal, or a stuffing.
A little nutrition
A complete protein with fiber, magnesium and iron, and naturally gluten-free.
Always rinse quinoa before cooking, it has a natural coating (saponin) that tastes soapy if you skip it.