Quinoa

Quinoa is an interesting seed that can be substituted for grains such as rice and barley. It was the main staple of the Incas. It cooks much like grain requiring 2:1 water ratio and plumps up about 3x to 4x it's original size, and cooks in about 15 minutes.

It has a high protein content (about 12-18%) and balanced set of amino acids, and is high in magnesium and iron. For nutrition info see here.

Once cooked the bran forms a tail like structure which gives quinoa it's fluf and crunchy like textures. It has a slightly nutty taste and can add some flair to food.

Only drawback is that it can be expensive at $4-5 a pound in a store. Healthfood stores carry it in bulk at about $2 a pound.