BITTER QUINOA? RINSE IT!
You may also wonder about quinoa, which is actually a seed even though it’s often referred to as a grain.
From time to time, I encounter people who don’t like quinoa. They usually tell me it tastes bitter to them, and for good reason. Quinoa’s natural coating, saponin, tastes bitter.
Some companies sell it pre-washed and others don’t, which is why you may have tried it once and liked it but had it another time and hated it.
The fix for bitter quinoa is simple. Rinse the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer under running water for a minute to remove the coating, thereby making you a happy eater of fluffy, non-bitter seeds (which happen to be gluten free and loaded with protein).
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced small
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or lime juice
For the spinach:
- 8 ounces baby spinach, two large handfuls per person
- 3 tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
For the garnish:
- 2 ounces cotija cheese, crumbled
- Lime wedges
- Chopped fresh cilantro
