There was a time when I thought I hated quinoa; that its chewy and almost-crunchy texture just wasn’t for me. Over the years, however, I’ve experimented to find the perfect quinoa-to-water ratio and cooking time for the foolproof method of how to cook quinoa that actually turns out soft and fluffy every single time.
If you like pillow soft quinoa, this quinoa recipe is for you!
Table of Contents
Yes, today’s how to cook quinoa recipe might not be the most interesting recipe ever posted… but it’s the base for a few other more exciting recipes I hope to post soon: breakfast quinoa, quinoa chocolate chip cookies, and quinoa pancakes.
EDIT: The Breakfast Quinoa and Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies are now both up on the blog!
This basic quinoa recipe can be eaten on its own as a simple side dish, or spice it up by stirring in a little garlic powder and oregano, tossing it into a stir fry, adding a spoonful of tahini or some tomato sauce. Let your imagination run wild.
You can even use it for my favorite Quinoa Pizza Bites!
Do you have any favorite quinoa recipes? I still have a ton more quinoa recipes that I still need to publish on the blog, so be on the lookout for more healthy quinoa recipes to be posted in the near future.
Also, in your comments please feel free to leave links to your own favorite quinoa recipes if you wish.
How To Cook Quinoa
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raw quinoa (80g)
- 1/4 tsp salt – optional
- 1 2/3 cup water
- optional 2 tsp oil
Instructions
- How to cook quinoa: In a strainer, rinse quinoa and drain. Bring a small pot with the 1 2/3 cup water to a boil, then add the quinoa and all optional ingredients. Lower the heat to the lowest simmer, and cover. Simmer for 40 minutes, covered, then do not open the lid but turn off the heat completely. Let sit an additional 20 minutes, covered. After this time, the quinoa should be light and fluffy. If it's still too liquidy for some reason, simply turn the heat back on and stir for a few minutes until fluffy.NOTE: When found in nature, quinoa has a coating of bitter-tasting saponins. These occur naturally in the quinoa to prevent insects from eating the plant. Most packaged quinoa will be pre-washed; however it is always a good idea to wash the quinoa again just in case.View Quinoa Nutrition Facts
Notes
Edit: How To Make Quinoa – The Quick Way!
- 1 cup raw quinoa (160g)
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2 1/2 cups water
Instructions: In a strainer, rinse quinoa well. Drain. Now combine the raw quinoa with the other ingredients and bring to a boil uncovered. When it starts to boil, cover and simmer (or cook on low if your “simmer” is too gentle like mine is) 20 minutes or until the water is absorbed and quinoa is light and fluffy.
More Healthy Savory Recipes
Or this Cauliflower Pizza Crust
I actually make mine in a rice cooker with chicken stock, onions and green peppers. It’s so easy and such a delicious side dish. I sprinkle a little feta on top too 🙂
Ooh, that is an awesome idea! Do you use a 2 to 1 ratio of liquid and quinoa?
Yep! It’s so easy I haven’t even bothered trying to make it any other way 😉
Wow! How do you do in the rice cooker exactly?
Quinoa recipes are hit and miss for me. Sometimes I love them and sometimes I don’t. One of my favorite quinoa recipes is Zucchini-Quinoa lasagna:
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/zucchini-quinoa-lasagna/
I love quinoa! I am trying to cut down on grains and convert what grains I do eat to powerhouse ones like quinoa (which, like amaranth, isn’t even a true grain). I had to buy a super fine mesh strainer specifically for rinsing it because the seeds are so small!
Here are a few of my favorite recipes:
http://welldined.com/2013/07/mexican-style-quinoa-salad.html
http://welldined.com/2013/05/grilled-halloumi-quinoa-salad.html
http://welldined.com/2013/01/quinoa-with-butternut-squash-and-broccolini.html
http://welldined.com/2012/11/quinoa-salad-with-roasted-sweet-potato-kale-apple-and-red-onion.html
Enjoy!
Thank you! I just came across your recipes. I so appreciate your posting these great-sounding recipes for quinoa!
I used to think I hated quinoa too. Just recently I have been experimenting with it and now I have grown to totally love that chewy and crunchy texture!
We’ve been eating quinoa on & off for 5-7 years now. I have a quinoa pancake recipe I use 1-2 times per month, and a few weeks ago I made a quinoa & oat flour blueberry muffin recipe. I cook my quinoa in our rice cooker now.
Hi Cindy, your recipes sound yummy! Can you share how to make them?
This isn’t the exact same place I got my recipe – but it IS the same recipe, for the pancakes: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/health/nutrition/27recipehealth.html?_r=0
For the muffins, I lightly toasted the quinoa before grinding into flour, then used this recipe: http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/gluten-free-oatmeal-quinoa-blueberry-muffins/
Happy cooking!
Thanks for posting. I have heard so many good things about Quinoa but have not been happy with the texture so far. I will give this a try and look forward to your future recipes.
So far, my family has two favorite quinoa recipes. http://peasandthankyou.com/2012/08/14/garden-enchilada-bake/ and http://ohsheglows.com/2013/07/19/cumin-lime-black-bean-quinoa-salad-quick-easy/
Katie,
I have always cooked quinoa in the traditional, 2 to 1 ratio of water to dry quinoa, and never thought to add an extra bit of water. Great idea! My family likes it fluffy, but they might like it better, moister, so I’m trying your way, today! Our daughter turned vegetarian almost 1 year ago, and that has me always looking for more healthy protein recipes, so I am looking forward to yours! Thank you!
I love Almond-Quinoa muffins from ‘Veganomicon’ by Isa Moskowitz and Terry Romero. Most of the time I end up cooking quinoa as a sort of rice substitute. When I have time to go all out, I like to dry toast the kernels in the bottom of the pan, then add vegetable stock and cook. Add some carmalized onions and grilled veggies and it sure is delicious! I will definitely try using a little extra liquid and see if I too enjoy the more fluffy texture! Thanks for all the great posts!
I like experimenting with quinoa when I get a chance. I’ve been playing around with a “rice” pudding and some other things. I usually just serve it like rice under veggies, etc., but two of my favorites uses are …
Quinoa Eetch (Red Tabouli)
http://hyethymecafe.blogspot.com/2010/11/quinoa-eetch-red-tabouli-mock-kheyma.html
Pretty in Pink Quinoa Salad
http://hyethymecafe.blogspot.com/2013/06/pretty-in-pink-quinoa-salad.html