Quinoa or quinua (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is native to the Andes Mountains of Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. This crop (pronounced KEEN-WAH), has been called 41 vegetable caviar" or Inca rice, and has been eaten continuously for 5,000 years by people who live on the mountain plateaus and in the valleys of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile. Quinua means "mother grain" in the Inca language. This crop was a staple food of the Inca people and remains an important food crop for their descendants, the Quechua and Aymara peoples who live in rural regions.
This annual species is in the goosefoot family and is related to the weed, common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), canahua (C. pallidicaule Aellen), and wormseed (C. ambrosiodes L. anthelminticum). Possible hybrids between quinoa and common lambsquarters have been observed in Colorado. Quinoa is also in the same botanical family as sugarbeet, table beet, and spinach, and it is susceptible to many of the same insect and disease problems as these crops. Quinoa is sometimes referred to as a "pseudocereal" because it is a broadleaf non-legume that is grown for grain unlike most cereal grains which are grassy plants. It is similar in this respect to the pseudocereals buckwheat and amaranth.
Quinoa is a highly nutritious food. The nutritional quality of this crop has been compared to that of dried whole milk by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The protein quality and quantity in quinoa seed is often superior to those of more common cereal grains (Table 1). Quinoa is higher in lysine than wheat, and the amino acid content of quinoa seed is considered well-balanced for human and animal nutrition, similar to that of casein (Table 2).
Soul Vegetarian Restaurant & Exodus Carry-Out. Across from Howard University, D.C.'s outpost of the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem's Soul Vegetarian chain serves up a decent tofu burger made with black-eyed peas (one of MLK’s favorites) and sides such as dairy-free mac-and-cheese and rice and gravy. 2606 Georgia Avenue NW. (202) EAT-SOUL.
Ben’s Chili Bowl. Although justifiably known for its chili-laden half-smokes, Ben’s Chili Bowl offers some surprisingly good veggie fare — including vegan chili fries, vegan burgers, and heaping bowls of veggie chili. 1213 U Street NW. (202) 667-0909.
Secrets of Nature’s Health Food. Over in Anacostia, Secrets of Nature’s Health Food prepares mock meats such as vegetarian sausage and spare ribs. 3923 South Capitol Street SW. (202) 562-0041.
