How to cook Quinoa (and what to do with it!)

How to cook quinoa: a nutty flavor and super fast cooking time make cooking quinoa from scratch a great option for healthy meals!

Check out how to cook Farro in this post!

Around here, we love quinoa – but I remember when it was new to me and all the questions I had.

Quinoa (pronounced “keen-wa”) is classified a “super food”, and is considered to be a whole grain. It is one of the most popular health foods, due to it being gluten-free, high in protein (and fiber, magnesium, B vitamins, iron potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin E).

It has a sweet, nutty flavor and a very distinctive, slightly chewy texture, and is great as a substitute for rice or couscous (4o calories fewer than the same volume of rice).

There are over 100 different varieties – but we tend to stick to the white.

Fun fact: Quinoa is not a grass like wheat or rice – it’s actually related to spinach and amaranth.

Well, it tastes good. Plus it’s gluten free, and high in protein. And while I am not nutritionist, you can read about how quinoa became a modern nutritional powerhouse in this article by the American Heart Association.

One half cup of cooked quinoa – has 4 grams of protein, 2.6 grams of fiber, 140 mg of phosphorus, 159 mg of potassium, 1.4 grams of iron, and 1 mg of zinc.

Quinoa also contains small amounts of heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

While most boxed quinoa is already pre-rinsed, I always give it a good rinse anyway.

Rinsing will remove the natural coating, called saponin, which can make it taste bitter or soapy. Saponin is a naturally occurring chemical that coats every tiny grain of quinoa – it’s there to ward off insects—but it has a strong, unpleasant taste. Blech!

1 cup uncooked quinoa needs 1.75 Cups of liquid (the box says 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups liquid – but for me, if you do a 1:2 ratio, you end up with gummy, paste-y quinoa)

1. Begin by rinsing the quinoa until the water runs clear.
2. In a small saucepan bring water (or broth, depending on usage) to a boil then add quinoa.
3. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes until all the water is absorbed (Small pockets of air will appear on the surface – see pics below)
4. Remove from heat, and remove lid.
5. Fluff with a fork.
6. Devour.

• Quinoa Patties with Sriracha Dip
• Southwest Quinoa Salad
• Breakfast Quinoa with Blackberries & Mint
• Quinoa Greek Salad (from Bowl me Over)
• Mango Lime Quinoa Salad (from Bucket List Tummy)

5 from 11 votes

How to cook Quinoa – and what to do with it!

Author Kylee Ayotte

Servings 6

Prep Time: 1 minute min

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 16 minutes mins

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How to cook quinoa: a nutty flavor and super fast cooking time make cooking quinoa from scratch a great option for healthy meals!

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Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• ▢ 1 ¾ cup water or broth

Instructions

• Begin by rinsing 1 cup uncooked quinoa until the water runs clear.
• In a small saucepan bring 1 ¾ cup water (or broth, depending on usage) to a boil then add quinoa.
• Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes until all the water is absorbed (Small pockets of air will appear on the surface – see pics below)
• Remove from heat, and remove lid.
• Fluff with a fork.
• Devour.

Video

Notes

1 cup uncooked quinoa needs 1.75 Cups of liquid (the box says 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups liquid – but for me, if you do a 1:2 ratio, you end up with gummy, paste-y quinoa)

1 cup of uncooked quinoa will yield 3 cups cooked

 

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Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 159mg | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1.3mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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About Kylee Ayotte

I am a born and raised New Zealander (a Kiwi), now living in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m happily married to the love of my life – a hot American boy I met while traveling the world. I’m a mama to 2 awesome little boys and love red things, rugby, cheesecake, and bacon. Mmmmm. Bacon. Meet Kylee