South Beach Diet - Quinoa??

Can anyone tell me if quinoa is SB-friendly for someone in Phase 2? If it is, does anyone have a good recipe?

It's a high protein low-GI grain, so it would be SB P2 friendly.

I cook it and use it just like rice, and use it in place of rice in my favorite rice recipes.

One of my favorite ways is to replace the cooking water with canned or homemade low-fat broth or french onion soup (some of which are SB friendly, you just have to read the labels carefully, or make your own).

It also makes a great rice substitute in fried rice (I never use a recipe, just diced onions, celery, assorted left over veggies and lean meat and/or scrambled eggs and soy sauce and/or oriental fish sauce to taste).

Quinoa is a favorite for many of us on SBD! If you go to Kaylyn's Kitchen website, she has plenty of SBD recipes using quinoa. Enjoy!

I love quinoa. My health food store has a red quinoa that is especially good!

I haven't tried it but I'll keep my eyes peeled for it. :)

Thanks so much! I went to a whole foods grocer with a friend yesterday and saw so many different varieties and thought it might be a good try. If only I had a Trader Joes or Whole Foods closer than 2 hours away! :)

Quinoa is FANTASTIC!!! :love: Not only is it super-duper yummy, but it's full of protein, so it's a perfect choice for those who are vegetarian.

Just make sure you rinse it well (I use a strainer lined with cheesecloth) before using. The grains are covered with soapy-tasting saponins to keep animals from eating them. It's really easy to do and I've never known mine to taste soapy at all after that quick rinse, but it's an important step.

Here are links to some great quinoa recipes:
Quinoa Timbales (http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=printerFriendly&recipe_id=223455) (this is the first quinoa recipe I tried, and it sold me on qunoa! I didn't form it into the timbales, however. No reason to make 'em fancy when it's just us. ;) )
Quinoa Salad with Apricots and Pistachios (http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=printerFriendly&recipe_id=223453)
Kale and Quinoa Pilaf (http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=226297) (this is a big favorite of mine...I could eat buckets of it, but it's SOOOO healthy! I recommend adding more curry powder than they call for)
Roasted Vegetable and Quinoa Salad (http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=printerFriendly&recipe_id=1809152)
Quinoa and Pistachio Salad with Moroccan Pesto (http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=printerFriendly&recipe_id=1906364) (you'll have to sub for the orange juice, but it's worth it!)
Zucchini with Quinoa Stuffing (http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=printerFriendly&recipe_id=1834016)
Toasted Quinoa, Snow Peas, Tomatoes, and Mozzarella Salad (http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=printerFriendly&recipe_id=1622448)

Hey everyone,

I'm not doing South Beach, but I have been experimenting with quinoa recently and wanted to share something I tried. I was dying for a snack and my horrid brother had brought home pizza. I was a tough cookie and did not have any! Instead, I made some quinoa, chopped a tomato and roasted it in the oven, then mixed it into the quinoa with some parmesan and basil. It was SO GOOD and tasted almost exactly like pizza (if you were eating pizza with a spoon :) )

And beachgal, I can't wait to try that recipe for stuffed zucchini! It looks fab!

Nice idea, Sharon. I think I'll try that.

Here are links to some great quinoa recipes:
Quinoa Salad with Apricots and Pistachios (http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=printerFriendly&recipe_id=223453)

That sounds right up my alley :) mmm

YUM! Love quinoa here too! The sky is the limit with the stuff. I have even had the leftovers for breakfast--warmed up with almond milk on it and topped with fruit. YUM!

Laurie - Thanks for the good recipe ideas. The first time I tried quinoa I didn't know I should rinse it. These recipes look delish!