Quinoa. Many can’t pronounce it and many don’t know what it is, yet it has become a very popular grain, often used as a substitute for rice or pasta. Wait…is it a grain?

Although quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) means "mother grain" in the Incan language, it is actually a seed. "The yellowish pods are the seed of a plant called Chenopodium quinoa, native to Peru and related to beets, chard, and spinach," wrote Nicole Spiridakis in a story for NPR. Because quinoa looks and tastes so similar to grains—like a puffier, nuttier couscous—it’s often called a pseudo-cereal (a term used to describe foods that are prepared and eaten as a whole grain, but are botanical outliers from grasses). And as a good source of protein, fiber, iron, copper, thiamin, vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, and folate, it’s also called a “superfood.”

It has been a staple in the diets of people in the Andes for thousands of years, but it has only recently experienced a huge surge in popularity because of its high nutrient content and wide-range of health benefits. It also holds a worldwide reputation as a healthier substitute for white rice and pasta. Vegetarians and vegans tout it because quinoa is one of the few plant proteins that is a “complete” protein. This means it contains all nine of the essential amino acids your body needs.

In addition to it being loaded with nutrients, quinoa has many other health benefits: quinoa's high dietary fiber content can help lower LDL (“bad” levels of cholesterol), boost digestive health, and potentially lower the risk for some gastrointestinal cancers; its high magnesium content may improve blood sugar control and help manage Type 2 Diabetes; its high antioxidant content may help decrease the risk of inflammation; and its gluten-free content makes it is perfect for those with Celiac’s, etc.

There are a variety of ways quinoa can be incorporated into your diet, the most common being to just eat it as a substitute for rice. But other ideas include incorporating quinoa into tacos, salads, and soups (as a thickener). Quinoa seeds can also be made into flour by grinding them to a fine consistency so a broad range of gluten-free options such as quinoa bread, pancakes, and cookies, can be made.

Below are a few recipe ideas:

1. Greek Quinoa Salad

2. Broccoli, Cheddar, and Quinoa Gratin

3. Quinoa Black Bean Tacos with Creamy Avocado Sauce

4. Crunchy Thai Peanut Quinoa Salad

5. Cinnamon Toast Breakfast Quinoa

6. Quinoa Pancakes with Strawberries

7. Loaded Quinoa Burgers

8. Spicy Buffalo Quinoa Balls

9. Sea Salt and Dark Chocolate Quinoa Energy Bites

10. Orange-Pistachio Quinoa Salad

11. Tropical Quinoa Lettuce Wraps

Quinoa is so versatile…sky’s the limit! So try any quinoa recipe and let us know what you made in the comments below!