Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) isn't a true grain but a plant related to chard and spinach. Despite the leaves being edible, the sweet, nutty seeds garner all the attention. It's easy to see why: So versatile, they're used in breakfasts, desserts, and everything in between. Sample our best main-course recipes for quinoa on the following slides.

Protein-packed quinoa lends itself to hot cereal, dinner salads, and sweet puddings. These mini mouthfuls are just as versatile -- try them as appetizers or hors d'oeuvres, stuff them into sandwiches, or build a meal around them.

Sweet carrots and nutty quinoa complement the warm seasonings of this Moroccan-inspired, detoxifying dinner.

This lightened-up take on a crisp hash features sweet potato and beets, along with the beets' nutrient-dense greens. Try this version of the classic breakfast dish for a light dinner.

In this summery recipe that makes the most of the season's bounty, parsley spruces up the green beans and quinoa.

Include this fresh-tasting salad in a menu with steamed halibut, wilted mustard greens, and a grape cocktail dessert.

The thick Greek yogurt sauce on this quinoa veggie burger adds creaminess and tang for the perfect patty.

Simply cooked quinoa forms a nutty base for black cod, which, like salmon, is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. A natural sweetener, the agave syrup used in the kiwi salsa appears to have minimal effect on blood sugar levels.

A baked mixture of quinoa, spinach, cottage cheese, and eggs is substantial enough to serve on its own or with a green salad for a light dinner.

Because you can make the dish ahead of time, this quinoa salad is great for busy weeknights -- just squeeze lime juice over the dish when you're ready to eat.

This main-course quinoa-and-corn salad has distinct Latin American flavors, including pumpkin seeds, red peppers, jalapeno peppers, and cilantro.

Two types of quinoa combine with farro and barley in this hearty, nutritionally dense main-course salad.

Rather than cook quinoa, sprout it overnight to make this fresh, light, detoxifying, raw-food dinner.