Is quinoa gluten and wheat free?
Yes, quinoa sure is gluten and wheat free! Quinoa originated in the Andean region of South America, where it has been an important food for 6,000 years. Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete food. It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten free, which is why it is considered easy to digest. Fun Fact: Because of all these characteristics, quinoa is being considered as a possible crop in NASA’s Controlled Ecological Life Support System for long-duration manned spaceflights! Cooked quinoa is excellent in hot casseroles and soups, stews, stir-fries, or cold in salads. The seeds cook very quickly, in only 15 minutes. Uncooked seeds may be added to soups and stews as you would barley or rice and quinoa is often substituted for rice in rice dishes. Dry roasting quinoa in a pan or in the oven, before cooking will give a toast
