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For all you gluten-free foodies out there, quinoa is a god send! The grain-like quinoa seeds are a wonderful alternative to rice or couscous. They are high in protein and loaded with nutrients. Qunioa has a mild, slightly nutty flavor and fluffy texture that pairs extremely well with crisp, sweet veggies and bitter greens.

Originally, quiona was cultivated by the Incans and gained popularity in South America. It still isn’t a staple in American homes, but is slowly becoming the much loved alternative to wheat based products for an increasing number of people going gluten-free.

At TASTE we use black, red and your typical cream colored quinoa. Our Quinoa Salad is a delicious and healthy medley of quinoa, pecans, feta, black olives and asparagus.

If you’ve never tried quinoa–give it a try! Although it may look a bit intimidating at first, it is really very delicious (especially when made with loving care)!

Check out our other gluten-free tastes on the blog!