5 ways to include quinoa in your diet, without torturing your taste buds

The quinoa-mania still is the air, and why shouldn't it be? This mighty little seed has super-impressive nutritional value: it is jam-packed with protein, essential amino acids, calcium, iron, and manganese.

Sounds like the perfect, filling, low-cal meal? Here's the downside-quinoa is also chewy, has a fluffy texture and a subtle bitterness that can inspire a love-it, hate-it reaction, throwing you off the healthy-eating radar in all probability.

But don't make up your mind just yet. Remember those clever mommy tricks for the fussy eater? Adding ghiya juice to your favourite aaloo sabzi, and what not? Well, if ghiya juice could pave its way to your diet, then there's clearly hope for quinoa.
Take a look at how you can incorporate this super-versatile seed in your daily diet.

1. Sprinkle it on that Salad

Planning to have a bowl of sprouts? Or a home-made salad? How about adding embellishments?
Adding quinoa in a regular salad along with a host of healthy veggies is the easiest way to boost your protein and fibre intake. What more? It will result in a salad as pretty as it is delicious.

2. Smoothie With a Twist

Turn your fruit smoothie into a serious bittersweet morning meal by blending it with cooked quinoa. Even the most adamant haters will enjoy it. Plus, it will keep you full until lunch.

3. Quinoa Biryani

If you're a biryani lover, you'll surely love this one. Stick to your standard biryani recipe only, but use quinoa as the base instead of carb-rich basmati rice.  Since quinoa is a seed and not a grain, it will cook faster -- and your biryani will ready in a matter of minutes, not hours. Once you succeed, graduate to quinoa risotto.

4. Use is as a filling

Swap out fried potatoes, the traditional filling for samosas, to make way for nutritious and delicious quinoa. Burritos, spring rolls, stuffed mushrooms can also be filled up quinoa with for a satiating, healthy meal.

5. Crispy, Crunchy, Crumbs

In many recipes, breadcrumbs are used to add texture and crunchiness to the dish. How about swapping the breadcrumbs with the equally crispy but way-more-nutritious quinoa? So, go for it ladies, dip the chicken breasts and cottage cheese chunks in whisked eggs and coat them with cooked quinoa, season with salt and pepper, and then bake.