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You are here: Home / Food / How to Cook Quinoa

by Stacy  10 Comments

How to Cook Quinoa

Maybe you’ve seen quinoa listed in recipes…..but you passed right over it because you didn’t know what the heck it was – or how to pronounce it. Trust me, I have issues with my pronunciation of tons of things (just ask Barry). If I see a recipe with something weird listed in it, I usually pass it over and don’t give it a second thought (or if it has clam shells in it, what IS that about? Gag attack!)……but please don’t do that with quinoa! It’s not weird, it’s tasty. You say it like KEEN-WAH. I know, I know. This world would be an easier place to live if you spelled things like they were said. Sheesh. But anyway, that’s how you say it. It’s not a grain or a cereal…it’s actually in the grass family. Yep, Stacy’s finally gone off the deep end because now she’s telling you to eat grass. It’s SO easy to prepare…..faster than rice and just a tad bit longer than boiling pasta. Let me show you how to do it and you’ll start cooking it for yourself. You can find it in just about any store, usually in the fancy grocery section (i.e. organic). It’s not cheap like pasta or rice, but it’s not too bad. I like having something different once and a while, especially when it’s good for me. I buy mine in bulk at King’s Produce in Wytheville…..almost anything you can buy in bulk will be cheaper.

Measure the quinoa you have into a cup. It’s good to start with 1 cup. I had a little under that because I had already used part of my bag for something else…..and now it’s on my King’s list. I had a little over ¾ cup.

Go ahead and rinse it well.

When you cook keen-wah you want to make sure you have 1 part keen-wah to 2 parts water. I’ll do the math for you because I’m a stinking math genius…..1 cup of quinoa needs 2 cups of water. I know, I know. I blow you away with my math skills. Combine them both in a saucepan. You could add salt, but I was making a salad with this, so I knew I would add salt later.

Bring your quinoa to a simmer and turn the heat down to medium low. Put the lid on and let it do it’s thang. It will take about 15-20 minutes. This was done in about 20 minutes, but I think I accidentally added too much water. Maybe my math skills aren’t as awesome as you think.

When all the water is gone, take it from the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes, covered. This helps make it fluffy. I like saying fluffy – what a fun word!

Fluffy! Here it is. Pour it out of your pan and fluff it with a fork. How easy was that? Really, you should get some to try. It has a nutty taste, a little like brown rice but not the same consistency. It is full of protein and iron so it would be good for Meatless Monday.

I used this batch to make Quinoa Salad. You can use it for all types of things! It can be an alternative to rice in a recipe or you can use it in pasta salad in place of the pasta. You can just add olive oil, butter, salt and pepper for a nice side dish. Some people even eat it for breakfast, mixed with a little honey, milk, and cinnamon. I haven’t tried that yet, but probably will soon. Here are some other recipes:

Quinoa Pilaf

Breakfast Quinoa

Asian Quinoa

Fluffy Quinoa

  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 2 cups water
  1. Rinse quinoa.
  2. Combine quinoa and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cover.
  3. Let simmer for 15-20 minutes or until water is absorbed.
  4. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes.
  5. Fluff with fork and use in recipe for serve with olive oil, butter, salt, and pepper.


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About Stacy

Stacy is a Homemaking and Business Mom Mentor, the author of two cookbooks, creator of multiple e-courses, seasoned life coach, and comedian extraordinaire. Her first priority is her husband and her children - family first. She presses on each day because her calling is to teach, train, and mentor other ladies to have their dreams. She believes if it’s not easy, you won’t do it – because she’s lived it. She’ll bring YOU the awesome so that you can get your home back into control and watch your business soar. For tips and easy strategies, you can follow her on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the content above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Comment Policy: I love reading your thoughts and input on what you read here. I'm sure we'll disagree sometimes and that's okay! In those cases, do what's right for you and yours. As with any form of communication, only post comments that move the discussion in a positive direction.

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Comments

  1. becky wild says

    January 10, 2012 at 11:32 am

    Do you have any recipes for a crock pot chicken and quinoa recipe? I just got a bunch of chicken on sale, and I’d like to try something different and more healthy.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      January 10, 2012 at 12:23 pm

      My friend Nikki has a great recipe! 🙂 http://christianmommyblogger.com/slow-cooker-chicken-and-quinoa/

      Reply
  2. Karen says

    June 5, 2011 at 10:34 pm

    I make quinoa in my rice cooker. I don’t rinse it beforehand, but I am not a fussy cook. I love that quinoa is so full of protein. I never thought to eat it for breakfast!

    Reply
  3. Sinea says

    June 5, 2011 at 12:04 am

    I never knew how to cook Quinoa. Now I do. Thanks for the help!

    Reply
  4. Angela Tuell says

    June 4, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    Looks great! Great photos too! Do you all have Costco there? They have a good price on bags of organic quinoa usually. We do a lot with quinoa because it’s gluten free like you said. I’ve been taught to always rinse it first. Traditional Foodists suggest soaking it overnight first in water with a tiny bit of lemon juice added, then rinse it in a strainer before cooking as you described. (I usually replace at least 1/2 of the water with either broth or coconut milk though). The soaked texture is much more appealing to my children and I don’t have to change a diaper full of undigested quinoa afterwards.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      June 4, 2011 at 1:44 pm

      We don’t have Costco. 🙁 You could also use whey instead of the lemon juice. If I soak, I usually use it. It’s easy to get from straining kefir.

      Reply
  5. Dianne @ Mother 2 Four says

    June 4, 2011 at 11:47 am

    Hi Stacy ~

    Your last photo is very good! 🙂

    Curious – What kind of camera are you using?

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      June 4, 2011 at 1:06 pm

      Nikon D-60 with a 50mm fixed lens. 🙂 Thanks!

      Reply
  6. Amy says

    June 4, 2011 at 10:24 am

    I learned that rinsing the quinoa first removes some of the saponins (I know big word) that make it bitter and cause it to froth. Quinoa is great for people who can’t eat gluten. I eat it for breakfast instead of oatmeal. It contains all the essential amino acids and higher protein content than grains.

    Reply
  7. Rhonda says

    June 4, 2011 at 6:54 am

    Quinoa is high in protein, too….and gluten free for those trying to avoid grains. It is good and good for you! Thanks for doing a post on it.

    Reply


Hello! I’m Stacy!

I believe God created you to be the hero of your home. You CAN manage your home instead of it managing you. That’s why I empower women with simple solutions for their homemaking needs – because if it’s not easy, you won’t do it. {Read More…}

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