If you are trying to eat a healthier diet, one way that you can do this is to include more vegetarian protein. Not only is this a great way to lower the overall fat in your diet, but it also gives you digestive system a break. The reason for this is that vegetarian protein is much easier for your system to absorb. It is not hard to find good sources of vegetarian protein. Beans are high in protein, so you may want to try making some black bean recipes. Another great way to do this is to try cooking quinoa.
Because it is considered to be a complete source of protein, quinoa is one of the best vegetarian proteins you will ever find. What constitutes a complete protein is one that gives your body all of the amino acids that you need to survive. Even though almost all plant-based foods are short when it comes to one or more of the amino acids, this is not the case with quinoa.
Since there are numerous methods with which to cook quinoa, you will need to pick one that is best suited to the type of dish you are preparing. Most quinoa recipes use the absorption method of cooking. This is where you measure out the right amount of liqud to be absorbed into the quinoa as it cooks. Though absorption is used most commonly, many beginning cooks find it to be difficult because you will need to use some trial and error to make sure that all of the liquid is absorbed into the seeds. Generally speaking, you should use a 1:2 ratio between quinoa and your cooking liquid, but there are other factors that can impact this. For an example, the condition your quinoa is in, altitude and heating source can all play a major role in your results. To get started cooking quinoa with this method, you will want to bring your quinoa to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium low. Simmer for between 15 to 18 minutes, or until all of the cooking liquid is absorbed.
You may want to try steaming the quinoa if you are planning on making something where the texture needs to be fluffy, like a quinoa salad. First you will boil the quinoa for ten minutes and then you will want to steam it. The extra time and effort is worth it because this method yields perfect quinoa every time.