Trader Joe’s, Monrovia, Calif., announced the launch of its “Quintessential Quinoa Recipe Contest.” The winning recipes will be featured on the retailer’s website to showcase quinoa’s versatility.

Each recipe must feature only Trader Joe’s store brand products as ingredients (as many as seven), although binders such as butter, pepper, salt and cooking aisle do not count as ingredients, the retailer noted. Entrants are instructed to use Trader Joe’s Organic Quinoa or Trader Joe’s Organic Tricolor Quinoa as one of the ingredients. No alcohol is allowed in the recipes.

Trader Joe's Recipe Review Panel will evaluate the recipes, judging them on innovation of ingredient pairing, ease of preparation and taste. They will select five recipes for further judging by Trader Joe's customers (announced via the retailer's May e-newsletter), who will vote to determine the three winning recipes, the retailer said.

The creators of the three winning recipes each will receive a $25 Trader Joe's gift card, a "hip" reusable Trader Joe's bag and a "super special surprise."

To enter, consumers must list the ingredients and explain the cooking steps in an e-mail addressed to QQrecipe@traderjoes.com. The deadline for entry is May 4.