Learn how to cook quinoa perfectly, every single time!
Quinoa is a superfood grain that is frequently cooked the wrong way. If not cooked correctly it turns mushy and clumpy, not ideal! However, once you learn the secret to cooking perfect quinoa it will turn out light and fluffy every time.
What is Quinoa?
Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is the seed of the Chenopodium Quinoa plant, despite the fact that it's frequently know as a grain.
Quinoa has an interesting history. It was first grown for food 7,000 years ago in the Andes. The Incas considered it sacred, and referred to it as "the mother grain."
These days quinoa is renowned for it's nutritional content. It's so nutritious that it's amongst the top ten superfoods. In addition to it's nutritional content, quinoa is naturally gluten free , making it a great choice for those who want to avoid gluten.
How To Cook Quinoa Perfectly, Every Time!
Time needed: 15 minutes.
How to cook quinoa that's light and fluffy, every time.
- Rinse your quinoa.
Quinoa has a natural coating called saponin, that if not removed, makes your cooked quinoa taste bitter and soapy. Be sure to put it in a colander or sieve and rinse well.
- The perfect ratio for quinoa to water is 1:2.
For every cup of quinoa that you cook, use two cups of water. Be aware that quinoa expands when cooked (a lot!) One cup of uncooked quinoa will yield four cups of cooked quinoa.
- Cook the quinoa, uncovered for 10 minutes.
Cook the quinoa for 10 minutes over low heat. Gently simmer it until the water is absorbed. Now, remove the quinoa from the heat and cover the pan with a tea towel for 8-10 minutes. This will allow the excess steam to escape, but retain enough steam to open the quinoa seed, which is what will produce light and fluffy quinoa.
That's it! Fluff the quinoa with a fork and serve!
If you like quinoa, you might like these recipes:
Quinoa Pilaf With Miso Dressing
How To Cook Quinoa
Ingredients
- 1 cup (185 grams) uncooked quinoa
- 2 cups (500 ml) water
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa and put into a medium sized pan with the water.
- Simmer over low heat uncovered for 10 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat once the water has been absorbed, and cover with a tea towel. Allow to rest for 8-10 minutes. Fluff with fork and enjoy!
Lara
Thank you for this, it works perfectly.
dailydish
You're welcome. Thank you for your feedback! Happy you got great results!