Super Food
I started hearing about quinoa when one of my friends started seeing a nutritionist. She and I learned that quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is an ancient grain that’s high in protein with a beneficial balance of amino acids. You can find quinoa at health food stores like Essene and Whole Foods, but in recent years I’ve seen it on restaurant menus.
When Copper in Northern Liberties first opened, they served a watery risotto based on the stuff. Sadly, it tasted as bad as you think a “superfood” would. (It was also quickly yanked from the menu.) But this wasn’t quinoa’s fault. Some kitchens know how to render it delicious. Quinoa also pops up on Bistro 7’s oft-changing menu. There, it’s often prepped pilaf style, which helps its nutty flavor and chewy texture shine. And if you’re looking to make it at home, I recommend this Epicurious.com recipe, originally from Gourmet. The salad’s bright flavors are just the taste of summer most of us really need right now.
Image, wikimedia.org