Quinoa ("keen-wah")

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)  is an ancient seed originating from the Andes and the Inca people. It is closely related to species such as beets & spinach. Quinoa is a small seed which comes in White, Red or Black. It grows to 1-2 meters high with beautiful big flower heads that contain the seeds.

Quinoa's protein is of an unusually high quality. It is a complete protein, with an essential amino acid balance close to the ideal. Quinoa's protein is high in lysine, methionine and cystine. Quinoa is rich in manganese, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, copper, zinc, Vitamin E, B6, riboflavin, niacin and thiamine and has more calcium than cows milk, is an excellent anti-oxidant, rich in dietary fibre and has a very high iron content. It also has a low glycemic index level and is completely gluten free.

Quinoa has a light, fluffy texture when cooked, and has a mild, slightly nutty flavor.

Quinoa has a coating of bitter residue of saponins, a natural occurring plant-defense. The Saponin has a very bitter flavour so its best to rinse the Quinoa well under running water to remove as much as possible of the saponins. Wash and stir 3 or 4 times in water, or wash till water is clear. Never soak Quinoa before washing. The bitterness will be absorbed by the seed and you will never get the bitterness out. The first 2 washes are very important - the first wash will be dark and frothy; the second wash is not as dark as the first. The water will get clearer with every wash. 

I purchase Tasmanian Organically Grown Quinoa from Honest to Goodness

When my Quinoa arrives I place the bag in the Freezer for 3-5 days to kill any bugs that may be in there. After that you can safely store in the pantry. 

Quinoa Flour

 

I grind my own Quinoa Flour. That's one of the added benefits of being a Thermomix owner! It also saves a lot of money since it is one of the few Flours that I can use. 

First rinse Quinoa under cold running water until it runs clear. I do this by using a muslin cloth lined mesh strainer over a bucket in the sink. That way I can tip the water onto the pot plants so as not to waste any! As above it will take a few washes for the water to be clear.

Spread the rinsed Quinoa onto paraflexx lined Dehydrator trays. Dry the Quinoa using your dehydrators recommended settings. If you don't have a dehydrator you could do this in an oven on a very low temp.

I have a Excalibur Dehydrator from Excalibur Australia.

While the Quinoa is still warm add to Thermomix bowl to just below the highest blade.

Grind on Speed 10 for 3 minutes or until a nice fine flour. I allow a little cooling time between batches. Tip the Flour into a bowl and let cool before putting into a airtight container.

Quinoa Flour is best mixed with other flours or starches.

Cooking Quinoa

I use my Thermomix to cook Quinoa. First rinse well as detailed above.

Fill Thermomix Bowl to the 1 litre mark with Filtered Water.

Put the Quinoa in the Rice basket and then into the TM Bowl.

Cooking time depends on the amount of Quinoa.

Cook on Varoma 15 minutes Speed 4. Check the Quinoa and stir a little.

When the Quinoa is cooked it will have puffed up some and a tiny white spiral will appear encircling the grain. If its not yet done replace lid and cook on Varoma for a few more minutes or until it looks cooked. 

Leave sit in the Thermomix with lid on to keep warm till ready to serve or place into Thermoserver. Cooked Quinoa will keep in the fridge for several days.

Quinoa Information
Honest to Goodness - Australian Organic Quinoa product info
Kindred Organics - Quinoa
Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council - Quinoa
Quinoa Recipe Books by Rena Patten

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Coconut

Coconut has become a much loved product in our house! It is a great Dairy substitute as Coconut Milk & Cream and also a useful Flour, a Delicious Sugar Alternative as Coconut Sugar & Coconut Syrup and a lovely Oil to cook with.

I buy Coconut products from Honest to Goodness & The Coconut Shop

The Coconut from Honest to Goodness is Sulphur & Additive Free Organic Coconut. The bigger the bag you buy the cheaper it becomes. I get through mine but you could easily share with a friend or two.

I make Coconut Cream & Milk from my Organic Shredded Coconut in my Thermomix. Then place the left over Coconut into the Dehydrator to dry and once dried back into the Thermomix to make Coconut Flour. That way you are using all of the Coconut and not wasting any of the goodness.

Thermomix Coconut Cream & Milk

I like lots of Coconut Cream. So I use a higher Shredded Coconut to water ratio.

Using good quality Filtered Water
(I have a Pure Water Systems Filter)
Fill the Thermomix Bowl to the 1.5 litre mark.
Carefully add Shredded Coconut till the bowl is almost full and lid will still fit on.
Blitz for 10-15 seconds on Speed 10
Cook 15 minutes Heat 100 & Speed 4
Blitz for another 10-15 seconds on Speed 10

Place a muslin cloth over a Mesh Strainer and sit on top of a Medium Saucepan (1-2 litre)

(I use a unbleached muslin baby rug cut in half and doubled over to make a square)

Pour the Coconut mixture onto the Muslin and let cool a little

Coconut Cream & Milk separating

When it's cool enough for you to handle fold up sides of muslin bring together and wring to squeeze out the lovely coconut milk.
Pour the milk into a jug and let sit to separate.
Meanwhile process the coconut another two times...

Without rinsing the Bowl add Filtered water to the 1 litre mark
Add Coconut pulp back to the bowl
Cook 8-10 minutes Heat 100 Speed 4
Blitz 10-15 seconds on Speed 10
Repeat draining on squeezing process.

The milk will separate into a thick white creamy layer over top of a thinner Milk. I carefully ladle the Cream off the milk. You can use the two together depending on what you are making some things call for the thicker richer cream.

This will keep for a few days in the fridge. If you don't think you will use it all in time freeze some in BPA free ice cube or ice block trays. When frozen you can remove from trays and put into freezer bags to take up less room in your freezer.

Spread on Dehydrator Sheet ready to Dry

The Coconut Pulp that remains can be used straight away, kept in fridge to use in the next
day or so or freezer for a little longer storage. There are plenty of ways to use this coconut... make macaroons or toast to roll homemade Marshmallows in... the options are endless! You can also make Coconut Flour!

Coconut Flour

Using the Coconut Pulp that remains
Spread evenly onto Dehydrator Sheets.
The time it takes to Dry depends on your dehydrator and the heat settings you use. I just keep a close check on it making sure to break up any lumps so that it is completely dry.

While still warm from Dehydrator tip into a clean & dry Thermomix Bowl
Blitz on Speed 10 until it is a nice fine Coconut Flour about 30 seconds.

I keep my Coconut Flour in the Freezer.


Coconut Butter Thermomix Tutorial

Links to Recipes using Coconut Milk, Cream and Flour
Pikelets


Information on Coconut and it's Health Benefits and Uses
Dr Oz - Benefits of Coconut Oil
Coconut Research Center
Cyndi O'Meara - Benefits of Coconut Oil
Coconut Storage

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