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What is Quinoa Pasta?

Brendan McGuigan
Brendan McGuigan

Quinoa pasta is an entire family of pasta made from quinoa instead of the traditional ingredient of wheat. This type of pasta has seen a rise in popularity in the last few years, as people begin using it for health reasons, and as incidences of celiac disease become higher and more commonly diagnosed.

This type of pasta is made from the seeds of the quinoa plant, which has its origins in the Andes of South America. It is not a grass, and therefore not a true cereal in the way wheat or rice is. The seeds are collected and eaten like a grain, and it is probably most similar to amaranth in terms of large-production food crops.

Uncooked whole grain quinoa.
Uncooked whole grain quinoa.

Quinoa has been cultivated as a crop in the Andes as far back as the 4th millennium BCE. The Incas referred to it as the mother of all grains, and it played a pivotal role in the agricultural cycles of the Incas. When the Europeans conquered South America, they shunned quinoa as a food, disparaging it as Indian food, and its cultivation gradually decreased outside of rural indigenous communities.

Quinoa orzo.
Quinoa orzo.

Beginning in the 1970s, it began to see a resurgence, and with its introduction to the United States as a food staple sales and production began to increase. More recently, quinoa has become a staple food, especially for many vegetarians and vegans, and myriad products have been made that rely on it in the place of other grains.

Quinoa pasta offers a number of advantages over traditional pasta. For one thing, it has a very high amount of protein in it, at around 15% of its total volume. This pasta also has a robust amount of amino acids, and for people who subscribe to the model of complete proteins, quinoa is one of the few grains that has a complete protein in and of itself. The pasta also has a great deal of iron, magnesium, and phosphorus.

Quinoa can be made into spaghetti.
Quinoa can be made into spaghetti.

Additionally, quinoa pasta has no gluten in it, and so is a good alternative for people who are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease. For many people, pasta is a cornerstone of their diet, and when they discover that they can’t eat wheat for whatever reason, it seems as though pasta will have to be eliminated entirely. Pasta made with quinoa offers an alternative to eliminating it altogether, and as well as being suitable for celiac sufferers, it is healthier in many ways than traditional wheat pasta.

Quinoa pasta is safe for those who suffer from celiac disease.
Quinoa pasta is safe for those who suffer from celiac disease.

There are a number of different manufacturers of quinoa pasta, and it can be found in all sorts of different shapes. While the range of shapes is still less than that of traditional pasta, it can be found in macaroni elbows, spaghetti, corkscrews, and other major shapes. Cooking this pasta is slightly more precise than cooking wheat pasta, simply because the texture can go wrong if undercooked or overcooked more easily than white pasta. Many people compare it’s texture to that of whole wheat pasta, and the same cooking precision applies.

Discussion Comments

anon925268

I buy it in Toronto at Bulk Barn.

anon226375

Is there a store in or near Jacksonville NC?

anon103228

Essence of Life in kensington market.

anon82988

The question is: Where in Toronto can one buy Quinoa pasta?

anon76426

Do most Costco stores carry quinoa?

anon61150

I bought my quinoa, three-pound bag here in Toronto, at Costco- for $8.99. Certified organic and pre-washed.

mariemargis1

where in Toronto, Canada could I buy quinoa and rice pasta?

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    • Uncooked whole grain quinoa.
      By: womue
      Uncooked whole grain quinoa.
    • Quinoa orzo.
      By: Bert Folsom
      Quinoa orzo.
    • Quinoa can be made into spaghetti.
      By: ENVY
      Quinoa can be made into spaghetti.
    • Quinoa pasta is safe for those who suffer from celiac disease.
      By: joshya
      Quinoa pasta is safe for those who suffer from celiac disease.
    • Quinoa is native to the Andes.
      By: Photofollies
      Quinoa is native to the Andes.