Quinoa is a great addition to your food with a much more complete protein profile. It contains the same number of carbs as the same quantity of white or brown rice but sightly more fiber content. Many US people have not heard about quinoa but it has been around South America for about 5000 years. Some people think it is a grain but its a seed has a pellet like appearance with a slightly crunchy texture and a nutty flavor. Quinoa is cooked similar to rice and once cooked, you can add it in any of your recipes that call for rice or it also makes a nice side dish all alone. You can use quinoa in many pilaf dishes, adding vegetables, and seasonings to taste.