I copied this awhile back. Sorry I can't remember which website :-(
WHAT IS QUINOA?
Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is a superfood from the high Andes Mountains
of South America, where for centuries it was a staple food of the Incas.
It is not a true grain: it is a member of Chenopodium family, along with
spinach, beets, and chard, and a cousin of Amaranth.
HOW DO YOU USE THIS WONDER FOOD?
Quinoa only takes 15 minutes to cook! But first, wash whole seeds 3 to 5 times in cold water, until water fails to foam very much, to remove saponins (the bitter soapy coating that protects the plant from predators).
Quinoa shines in place of couscous, millet, or bulgur wheat, and substitutes well in most grain dishes. Use it as a side dish, hot cereal, or in soups, salads, pilafs, stir-fries, and desserts. Because Quinoa is
light, tasty, and easy to digest, it is an excellent food during hot summer months.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF QUINOA?
Quinoa can usually be tolerated by those allergic to cereal grains, and is "essentially gluten free." Nutritionally, it is the equivalent of meat and
potatoes: it provides all the essential amino acids, including lysine, which most plant foods lack, and is also high in methionine and cysteine.
In fact, quinoa has the highest protein content of all grains, and more calcium than milk. Quinoa is a good source of phosphorus, iron, B vitamins, and vitamin E. It is also high in linoleic acid, fiber, minerals, vitamins. Because it is a nutrient-concentrated food, it is very satisfying to people making the transition to a vegetarian diet. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, quinoa is considered to have a warming thermal nature, a sweet and sour flavour, and is generally strengthening
for the whole body.