Learn how to cook quinoa right every time with my tips to make it nice and fluffy. Perfect to add to salads or your favourite dishes.
How to Cook Quinoa is one of the most common questions I receive whenever sharing a recipe including quinoa. It's actually super easy to make however if not made correctly, it can turn out very soggy and mushy.
In this recipe, I show you how to cook quinoa on the stove which will be super light and fluffy.
I'll admit, I struggled with it myself when I first started making quinoa, but it's not as hard as you think. Once you start cooking it correctly, you'll get the hang of it quickly and will never have to eat soggy quinoa again 🙂
I love adding quinoa to salads, nourish bowls, and mixing it with rice. My quinoa salad and quinoa tabbouleh are some of my favourite ways to eat it.
Table of Contents
What is Quinoa
Quinoa is a superfood that is very popular for all of its amazing health benefits which has a nutty flavor.
Quinoa which is pronounced Keen-Wah is a grain crop that grown for its edible seeds. It's gluten free and is a complete protein with many added nutrients such as fiber, manganese, magnesium, iron, and potassium. Source
It has been eaten for thousands of years in South America and only recently became a trend food, reaching superfood status.
Ingredients
- Dry Quinoa, there are three main types of quinoa, white, red and black. In this recipe I have used tri color quinoa
- Water helps cook the quinoa on the stove
Important tips on how to cook quinoa
- Make sure to wash the quinoa well under running water for a few minutes. This removes the outer coating, known as Saponin and avoids the quinoa tasting bitter
- Ensure to simmer with the lid off when cooking the quinoa
- Keep an eye on the pot, until the water has been fully absorbed. For 1 Cup of Quinoa, it will take approximately 15 minutes. The quinoa should be soft and translucent once cooked
- Once water is absorbed, turn the heat off and place the lid on for 5 minutes. This step is crucial as it allows the steam to finish the cooking process
- Remove the lid and immediately fluff with a fork. This separates all the grains and creates a fluffy light texture
FAQs
The rule of thumb for the measurements is One part Quinoa to Two parts water
Quinoa is versatile and can be added to a lot of favourite dishes such as salads, nourish bowls, rice, burger patties, soups, and more.
Yes rinsed quinoa will remove the outer coating which is called Saponins, if not it can provide a very bitter taste
More Salad Recipes
- Quinoa Tabbouleh
- Jennifer Aniston Salad
- Healthy Tuna Salad
- Chickpea Avocado Salad
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad
- Shirazi Salad
- Rocket Pear and Parmesan Salad
I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to tag @cookingwithayeh and share a photo on Instagram so I can share the love.
Recipe
How to Cook Quinoa
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa (I've used tri-color quinoa)
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa for a few minutes in a fine colander under running water to wash the outside coating
- Once washed, add to a pot and cover with 2 cups of water
- Cook on medium heat with the lid off for approximately 15 minutes until the water is absorbed. The quinoa will become soft and translucent
- Once the water has all been absorbed, turn the heat off and place the lid on the pot. Let it stand covered for 5 minutes
- Remove the lid and fluff the quinoa with a fork which will help all the grains separate and create a light texture
- Let it cool and add to your favourite salad or dish!
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