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: |
Fluffy Quinoa
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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.
My friend Nikki has a great recipe! 🙂 http://christianmommyblogger.com/slow-cooker-chicken-and-quinoa/
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!
I never knew how to cook Quinoa. Now I do. Thanks for the help!
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.
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.
Hi Stacy ~
Your last photo is very good! 🙂
Curious – What kind of camera are you using?
Nikon D-60 with a 50mm fixed lens. 🙂 Thanks!
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.
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.