Quinoa (pronounced keen wa) is the edible seeds of a flowering plant in the amaranth family. It is not a grain but it is used as if it is. It looks like tiny, flattened grains. There are white, red and black varieties.
It has high amounts of protein and is gluten-free.
Quinoa can be cooked and used in the same ways as rice. When it is cooked, it increases to three to four times its uncooked volume.