Photo Gallery of Quinoa Recipes

Quinoa (quinua or quínoa in Spanish) is a grain from the Andes region of South America. Pre-Colombian farmers cultivated quinoa on terraced fields, and benefited from its nutritious properties. Quinoa (pronounced "keen-wah") has an unusually complete array of amino acids for a grain, so it is an excellent protein source. It's also rich in iron, important for people living in high-altitude, oxygen-poor areas like the Andes. And unlike wheat, quinoa is gluten-free.

Quinoa has a rich nutty flavor, and is often cooked in water and served as a pilaf. Quinoa can be processed into oatmeal-like flakes or flour and used in breads. Breads made from quinoa flour are also becoming popular, both for their gluten-free properties and high protein content. You can even find pasta made with quinoa flour.