Perfectly Cooked Quinoa

Today I’m going to show you how to perfectly cook quinoa! As I mentioned last week, I’m going to be posting simple base recipes every once in a while that I will be integrating into larger recipes, so when I post a recipe that requires quinoa, you will be able to pop over to this base recipe. I even posted a cute video on my Instagram page, so check it out. 

Quinoa is a staple in our house. I make quinoa at least two times a week and pair it with just about everything. I add it to salads, use it as a base for my favorite pasta sauces and pesto, warm it with a bit of almond milk for morning cereal, the list goes on and on. I have a load of quinoa recipes on the website, so feel free to check them out. 

Fun Fact: Quinoa is naturally gluten-free, high in protein (one cup provides 8 grams), is richer in calcium than milk, and an important plant source of all nine essential amino acids. It’s also high in fiber (one cup provides 5 grams) good source of antioxidants, manganese, and iron. 

Since I’m staying away from gluten, it gives me that carb-like satisfaction. I make it all the time, so I’ve discovered the ideal liquid ratio that gives you perfectly cooked quinoa that’s not watery or over cooked.

Perfectly Cooked Quinoa

• 1 cup white quinoa, I love this quinoa from Ancient Harvest, as you don’t have to pre-rinse it
• 1 3/4 cup water, or bone broth, use bone-broth for added protein
• Big pinch of coarse sea salt 

Rinse quinoa in fine mesh strainer, if you don’t buy pre-rinsed quinoa.

Get out a small pot with lid and add in quinoa, water and big pinch of salt.

Set pot over high heat and bring quinoa to a boil, give a stir, cover pot, turn heat down to low-simmer, and cook until all the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa’s germs look like lots of little spirals, 12-15 minutes.

Note: If you use tri-colored, red or black quinoa you may need to add 5 to 10 minutes to the cooking time. 

Turn off heat, place a dry paper towel between the pot and lid, and let quinoa sit for 5 minutes.

Fluff with fork or spoon and enjoy! That’s all there is to it!

Here’s an amazing 5 minute warm quinoa cereal you can make tomorrow with this quinoa. It’s perfect for those upcoming busy fall mornings. 

I love these one-pan Mexican quinoa wraps! They are sooo good!  

These quinoa wraps with black beans, feta and avocado are also the bomb! 

I love pouring my heirloom tomato soup over 1 cup of quinoa and then topping with a tablespoon of hemp seeds. I even posted a cute video of this lunch idea on my instagram page. This is a gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, protein filled lunch. Hemp seeds are a complete protein (1 TBL =3 grams) Hemp is loaded with 20 amino acids, (including the 9 essential) and contains the ideas 3:1 omega-6 to omega-3 ratios which help the body metabolize fat. Winner, winner lunch! 

As you can see, I have tons of recipes that incorporate quinoa. Let me know which one you make!  Take a photo and tag me on instagram and I’ll share your photo in my story.