
Instructions
- Tear to vent. Place pouch standing upright in the microwave.
- Microwave on HIGH for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Careful, let stand in microwave for 1 minute.
- Remove pouch from microwave using COOL TOUCH areas. CAUTION: POUCH & PRODUCT WILL BE HOT.
- Pour soup into bowl and stir before serving.
Quinoa is all the rage among foodies right now. It's a super food that many people believe is a grain, but it's actually a seed. However, similar to many grains, quinoa offers a texture and flavor that makes it a great base for many types of ingredients and spices. Campbell's is getting in on the quinoa trend in its line of Go Soups with the Chicken & Quinoa with Poblano Chilies.
I happen to be a big fan of quinoa. I prefer it to brown rice or beans and think it works well with many different dishes, including savory and sweet. It's rare to eat something that tastes good whether it's mixed with blueberries and chocolate or sweet potatoes and salsa, but quinoa can do it.
Unfortunately, I don't think it really works in this soup.
The flavors of the soup are very good. It has a Mexican, smoky, spicy flavor that you get from the poblanos and there are plenty of pieces of chicken. You could throw in a few pieces of tortilla chips and I could easily see this passing as a chicken tortilla soup.
The problem is that the quinoa doesn't really hold up. The liquid causes the quinoa to break apart and begin to dissolve, which offers an odd texture. I guess you still get the nutritional value, but you miss the flavor and consistency that could be offered.
I think Campbell's got a little overly ambitious in trying to feature quinoa here. While adding something like black beans or rice probably wouldn't have been as creative in the packaging and marketing, I think it would have better served in the overall execution of the product.