3 Jewel Porridge

Quinoa, grown on the high plateau areas of the Andes, South America, thrives in the well-drained, mineral rich soils. It has been domesticated around the Lake Titicaca region between Bolivia and Peru for over 4,000 years.

Xiǎo  xiǎo  mǐ or  quinoa  (keen-wah)  is  not  a  grass, but  a  gluten-free  seed belonging to the amaranth family with remarkable nutritional properties. It has an excellent protein profile with all 9 essential amino acids, fibre and vitamin B and is touted as a superfood with 1 cup of quinoa providing ~30% RDA for magnesium, potassium, zinc and iron.

Here we have used black, white and red quinoa with purple sweet potato, carrot and parsnip, adding a wealth of anthocyanins, carotenoids and folate from the earthy roots.

Purple sweet potatoes are rich in anthocyanins, flavonoid antioxidants which fight the effects of aging and oxidative stress, while their fibre improves overall digestive health.

Orange carrots are one of the richest sources of betacarotene, which is converted in the body to vitamin A, an essential micronutrient which nourishes respiratory membranes, supports cell growth and helps maintain vision.

Folate is essential to build DNA & RNA, the coded instructions and messengers which form and connect each cell and to produce red and white blood cells. This is particularly important during periods of growth such as pregnancy, infancy and adolescence.

Credit: Ceri, Zenxin Master Chef

Print recipe here 3 Jewel Porridge