Browse this extensive list of quinoa recipes to find your next favorite dinner! Learn how to make quinoa with our tried and true method for perfect fluffy quinoa.
How To Cook Quinoa was originally published April 20, 2011
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How to make best fluffy quinoa
If you're looking for a fool proof way to cook quinoa, we have it!
The stovetop method takes about 25 minutes from start to finish. The steps are pretty easy: rinse it, cook it. Voila! Perfectly cooked quinoa, every time.
I cook my quinoa in my favorite glass lidded pot, so I can keep an eye on it. If you follow this stovetop quinoa cooking method, you shouldn't have to watch it closely, but even the slightest difference in temperature might bring a different outcome - quinoa that is not completely cooked through, or quinoa that burns on the bottom.
How to cook quinoa:
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 ½ cups liquid (broth or water)
- pinch salt
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Rinse the quinoa to remove the glycoside residue (quinoa is a seed), reducing the bitter taste. I run the water for a minute or two, flipping the colander to rinse evenly.
- In medium size pot over high heat, bring the rinsed quinoa, liquid and salt to a rolling boil.
- Reduce to a very low simmer, cover with a lid and leave it alone for at least 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat, fluff with fork, serve.
Benefits of Quinoa
Quinoa, a whole grain food, is a protein powerhouse making it an awesome ingredient for the vegan diet.
Quinoa is classified as a complete protein, which means it contains all nine essential amino acids. It's also a great source of fiber, iron, magnesium and manganese.
With a nutty flavor and fluffy, chewy texture, quinoa a wonderful alternative to rice, couscous or any grain. It's versatile, too; you can serve it warm or cold, combine it with other food to make it a main entrée or keep it simple as a side dish.
How to store quinoa
Dry / uncooked quinoa has about a year shelf life, if kept sealed in an airtight container in a cool place. We keep our quinoa fresh in an Airscape container in our pantry.
Do you need to refrigerate cooked quinoa?
Cooked quinoa will keep in the refrigerator for about a week. We store cooked quinoa in a glass container with a sealing lid. These make great food prep containers as well.
The Best Vegan Quinoa Recipes
From salads to stews and from savory to sweet, browse this collection of awesome vegan quinoa recipes that will inspire you to make delicious creations using this super-grain.
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Quinoa Recipes
Browse this extensive list of quinoa recipes to find your next favorite dinner! Learn how to make quinoa with our tried and true method for perfect fluffy quinoa.
Green Goddess Chopped Salad is brimming with freshness and bright, herby flavors. This is a great meal prep salad, it stays crunchy and flavorful for several days in the fridge.
This entree salad has layers of flavor and texture, and these spicy buffalo wings are for everyone: soy free, gluten free, and oil free!
All the satisfying flavor, color, and texture in an easier to eat bowl. great for lunch or dinner – or breakfast – these super flavorful bowls are family friendly, easy to make, and antioxidant rich!
A unique flavor twist on everyone's favorite party bite - sweet pineapple and buttery cracker crumbs add to this spicy bite!
This recipe has layers of flavor and texture - raw, roasted, and pan fried veggies over quinoa and vegan buffalo chicken - savory and satisfying!
These mozzarella stuffed chicken burgers are incredibly flavorful and allergy friendly - soy AND gluten free!
A great meal prep recipe and the best potluck recipe, this vegan gluten free salad brings protein and fresh flavor.
Ginger carrot quinoa is a fresh and flavorful filling for a stuffed bell pepper! This is a great meal prep recipe for a quick dinner.
Bursting with fall flavor, this vegan salad makes a wonderful holiday side dish. Increase portions for an entree salad - perfect for a potluck or holiday party.
This hearty, plant based comfort food is an update on the classic recipe with the flavors that everyone loves.
A protein packed plant based update on the Mexican dip recipe you love – layers of fresh color, texture and flavor.
Vibrant cauliflower brings great color and texture to this salad. Layers of flavor and crunch with a bright lemony shallot dressing.
Now everyone can enjoy vegan chicken nuggets – these are soy, gluten, and nut free! grab your favorite dipping sauce, stuff in a wrap, or top a salad.
With a perfect balance of sweet and savory, this comfort food dish brings layers of texture and flavor!
This hearty vegan mushroom pie satisfies your comfort food cravings with a creamy herb mushroom filling and a light gluten free pastry.
This plant based comfort food dish is fresh and flavorful. A hearty vegan entree that suits just about any diet.
Hearty mushrooms are filled with protein packed quinoa and kale, topped with all of your favorite burger toppings.
Vibrantly flavored with classic sushi flavors, this crispy vegan chicken burger is sandwiched inside the unique ramen bun.
These brightly flavored, protein powered stuffed avocados make the perfect lunch or dinner - flavors of spring!
A whole food comfort food dinner everyone loves. Warm and satisfying, this is a perfect winter meal.
A warmly spiced and incredibly flavorful bowl of wholesome goodness! Follow this versatile basic recipe and customize the ingredients to your liking.
Air fried or oven baked, this is a sticky savory sweet favorite for any meal - with salad, sandwich or wrap.
about Kristina:
Kristina is spabettie! She found cooking at an early age, and created spabettie in 2010 to share vegan recipes. Kristina turned her culinary training into sharing vibrant vegan food! Read more...
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Kath (My Funny Little Life) says
Ahh, I totally know what you ---- what did you just say?!?!?!?! 😯
Seriously ... Quinoa - not a fan. 🙁
At least, I can tell you why: (1) I don't like the taste. (2) It is *too small*. Yes! I like big-grained things. Brown rice is my favorite. (3) It has hairs. This, alone, is kind of gross. 😀
Don't get me wrong: I WOULD LOVE TO LOVE QUINOA!!!!!!!!!!! For all of its high protein, nutritional value, complete protein qualities. But you can't force love, no?
Next life. 😉
spabettie says
aw! nope, you cannot force it. I don't suppose telling you those "hairs" are the GERM will help anything, hmm? 😉 I love brown rice too... but you can't beat the nutritionals with quinoa, I am glad I like it!! 😀
Kath (My Funny Little Life) says
Aaaaaaaaahhh, yes yes yes. Glad *you* like it, at least! 😉
spabettie says
ha... sorry! I probably eat enough for both of us. until you come around, that is. 😉
[email protected] says
Hahaha! I love this. I have mine stored in glass containers as well and I always have to google the measurements. EVERY TIME. 🙂 I love using it as a base for stir fried veggies. 🙂
spabettie says
now you can come visit ME 😉 I made my first quinoa based "stir fry" recently - actually adding it like a rice, SO good!
JL goes Vegan says
I LOVE QUINOA! And I *always* forget ratios! I cook quinoa stove top, in a pressure cooker and in a rice cooker. The ratios vary by cooking method so I blame that for my forgetfulness...not my age 😉
My favorite ways to enjoy quinoa:
-in soup (love it in split-pea soup!)
-a bed of quinoa, smothered in cooked beans
-scrambled with tofu for breakfast
spabettie says
oh! another reader asked about cooking in a rice cooker - how are your ratios different than stove top? 🙂 and now I am CRAVING split pea soup - it's been FOREVER since I had that! 😀
Trekky says
Glad I'm not the only one who forgets how to cook quinoa! I end up looking it up on the internet everytime! 🙂
spabettie says
me too - EVERY TIME!! now I have that tape, or I can look here. 😀
Lisa says
I used to eat it a lot, then I ran out and kept forgetting to get more. Do you know how to cook it in a rice cooker?
spabettie says
I don't have a rice cooker - but just did a quick google search and several results use the two parts liquid to one part quinoa ratio. Good luck!
JL goes Vegan says
I do 1 cup quinoa to 1.75 cup water in rice cooker and 1.5 cup quinoa to 2 cups water in pressure cooker.
spabettie says
thank you - I will let her know!!
Christine @ Merf In Progress says
LOVE quinoa. Just bought red for the first time and can't wait to use it!
spabettie says
I love the red too!
Katrina says
Do you know how to cook sprouted quinoa/or if the cooking is the same as regular quinoa? I accidentally bought some in the bulk section so I have no instructions for it. What I find online almost seems like you just cook/bake with it "raw", or not cooked at all.
I love quinoa!
spabettie says
I have never sprouted quinoa - I do think "sprouting" is a method people use instead of cooking, then using the quinoa raw, like you would bean sprouts, etc. I don't know though - is yours dry/crunchy?
Katrina says
It is dry. I just need to try to cook it and see how it turns out.
spabettie says
that's what I would do I suppose! I'm imagining sprouted quinoa to be... not dry, you know? 🙂 good luck!
Katrina says
I just made this---
http://coconutandquinoa.wordpress.com/2010/05/08/curried-sprouted-quinoa-pilaf/
with the dried sprouted quinoa. It's really good.
And tastes and cooked just like regular quinoa. This blog also talked about how easy it is to sprout quinoa by just soaking it in water overnight. I was surprised she then still cooked the sprouted quinoa with this dish. I just cooked the dry for about 20 minutes, until the liquid was absorbed. It's good stuff.
spabettie says
interesting info! thanks for sharing - the recipe you made looks SO good, and I love the photos of the sprouted quinoa! that is exactly what I was picturing, much like a bean sprout! after your initial question, then doing a google search, this is the first time I heard of someone cooking it after sprouting - glad it worked out, I may have to try it sometime! thank you Katrina!
JL goes Vegan says
I'm not 100% sure but I think dry quinoa that says sprouted indicates that it *can* sprout. (I'm taken up sprouting grains and quinoa is easy to sprout, if you buy the kind that indicates that it can sprout) Geez, hope that made sense! LOL
spabettie says
makes sense to me, I think - you mean that hers is NOT YET sprouted, but it COULD? so she can cook it normally? THANK YOU!!
JL goes Vegan says
Yes, I think that's what I mean. LOL
spabettie says
😀
Katrina says
With the dry stuff I got in the bulk bin at Whole Foods, you can see the little sprouts on the quinoa, but it is dry. I just left a reply on the comment above this one.
spabettie says
I'm going to look for it in the bulk bins next time...
janetha @ meals & moves says
i love quinoa! my favorite way to eat it is in a casserole. go figure.
spabettie says
ha! I could have guessed! 😀
Heather (Where's the Beach) says
I really like quinoa. I need to try the black if I can find it. If I have bought something like rice, barley or quinoa in a bag or box, I have saved the directions from that and put it with the canisters because I always forget ratios.
spabettie says
so good to hear I'm not the only one who forgets...
Holly @ The Runny Egg says
I didn't like quinoa on its own, so usually I use cooked quinoa in bean burgers.
I wonder if I rinsed it I'd like it on its own?
spabettie says
what was the reason you didn't like it solo? taste or texture? rinsing quinoa removes the bitter flavor, and using broth adds flavor. some people SOAK the quinoa also, which insures even cooking...