Abstract: Quinoa is a kind of“pseudo grain”with very high nutritional value.The unique nutritional value of quinoa lies not only in its high content of protein, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin E and other nutritional trace elements, but also rich in almost all essential amino acids and phytochemicals.It has potential health benefits of improving the nutrition level of people and prevention of various diseases. It has gained great interests by foreign agricultural and food research institutes over the past thirty years.The study about quinoa is rare in China.With the demand of consumer for health and health care rising continually, quinoa has a wide development prospects.The current paper reviewed the main nutritional composition and health benefits of quinoa. Current food applications using quinoa were also reviewed in order to provide scientific basis for the product development in future.