How To Cook Quinoa—The Ultimate Guide!

There are a million quinoa recipes on the internet. This is the ultimate guide for making quinoa! I've tested this method of cooking hundreds of times. If you want perfect, fluffy, never-mushy quinoa every time, just follow these steps below.

Quinoa bowls, here we come!

First of all, let's discuss—What is quinoa (pronounced "keen-wah")?

Quinoa is a seed that is often substituted for rice because of its nutritional composition.

If you thought that quinoa was a grain, you're not alone. Quinoa is considered to be a complete protein, and it is valued for its macronutrient balance.

Quinoa is harvested from a plant called chenopodium quinoa, native to Peru, Bolivia, and Chile in South America. Interestingly enough, the quinoa plant is related to beets, chard, and spinach.

What you'll love about quinoa!

• Fast: Quinoa takes less than 20 minutes to prepare.
• Tasty: Quinoa has a nutty flavor that adds flavor to salads. You can also use it as the base to build your favorite quinoa bowl recipe. Try out my personal favorite, the Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl.
• Nutritious: Quinoa is high in protein and fiber. It has been shown that a diet high in protein and fiber may help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

Couscous vs. Quinoa

Couscous is made of crushed durum wheat. Quinoa can be used as a substitute for recipes that call for Mediterranean Couscous (the smallest variety of couscous) if you're sensitive to gluten.

Quinoa vs. Rice

Quinoa has more protein, more fat, and more fiber per serving than white rice. Thanks to its higher fiber content, it's lower on the glycemic impact scale!

Recipe Notes

To make quinoa, you only need one ingredient: quinoa! Well, and water. But we all have that at home, usually.

What you'll need to cook quinoa

You only need a few things to whip up a pan full of fluffy, perfectly cooked quinoa.

• Quinoa: There are several varieties of quinoa: red quinoa, white quinoa, black quinoa, and rainbow quinoa, which is a mixture of all three.
• Strainer: A fine mesh strainer will help you to rinse the quinoa well.
• Water: 1 and ¾ of a cup of water for every cup of quinoa.

How to cook quinoa

Quinoa cooks pretty quickly. I almost always cook it on the stovetop. You can also cook quinoa in a rice cooker or using an Instant Pot, but I find that these methods leave you with a mushier texture.

Step-By-Step Stove Top Directions

Step 1: Rinse

Start by rinsing the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer for at least 30 seconds. This will remove any digestion-inhibiting saponins.

Step 2: Add to a pan

Add the quinoa and the water to a medium saucepan.

Step 3: Bring to a boil

Place the quinoa on the stove top and turn the heat to medium-high. Allow the quinoa to come to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer.

Step 4: Simmer

Simmer the quinoa until all of the liquid is absorbed.

Step 5: Cover

Remove the quinoa from the heat and cover with a lid. Allow the quinoa to steam off the heat for 5 to 10 minutes before fluffing.

Step 6: Fluff

Use a fork to fluff the steamed quinoa. Now you have perfectly cooked quinoa!

Ways to Serve Quinoa

My favorite way to eat quinoa is in my Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl.

More Quinoa Recipes

• 10 Quinoa Recipes — from Cookie and Kate
• Simple Quinoa Bowl Recipe — The Modern Proper
• Quinoa Salad with Cherry Tomatoes, Radicchio, and Pistachios — Very Good Cook

FAQs and Expert Tips