How To Cook Quinoa

I love quinoa! I am trying to cut down on grains and convert what grains I do eat to powerhouse ones like quinoa (which, like amaranth, isn’t even a true grain). I had to buy a super fine mesh strainer specifically for rinsing it because the seeds are so small!
Here are a few of my favorite recipes:
http://welldined.com/2013/07/mexican-style-quinoa-salad.html
http://welldined.com/2013/05/grilled-halloumi-quinoa-salad.html
http://welldined.com/2013/01/quinoa-with-butternut-squash-and-broccolini.html
http://welldined.com/2012/11/quinoa-salad-with-roasted-sweet-potato-kale-apple-and-red-onion.html
Enjoy!

I love quinoa… but I like it prepared some ways much better than others. My favorite are the sweet recipes, like with raisins & cinnamon cereal or quinoa pancakes, but I also like a Mexican flavored recipe with beans & salsa… I’m looking forward to your future recipes. =)

My biggest problem with cooking quinoa is rinsing it! I use a mesh strainer, and some always gets stuck in the rim of the strainer when I dump it out. I try and try to get it all out, but then some gets left in, dries, and falls out next time I pull out the strainer. Not world-ending problem by any means, but annoying!

I love quinoa! I look forward to your future recipes using it, especially the chocolate chip cookies!

Quinoa is amazing! I have added it to fruit salads and it makes a great side with fish! I always cook it in vegetable stock if using it for a savoury dish though, as it adds a lot of flavour 🙂

I love me some keen-wah. It’s like rice’s sophisticated older brother. It cooks quickly, has tons of protein and iron. But ditto on the “Make Sure to Rinse”. I have TOTALLY ruined dishes by not rinsing my quinoa. One main dish quinoa recipe I like is simple … involves sauteing some chickpeas and garlic in olive oil, pouring over the cooked quinoa along with the juice of one lemon and a generous amount of parsley. So good. If you are ever in Chicago or Washington DC, check out The Protein Bar – they are a quick serve restaurant that uses quinoa as the base for their meal bowls. Love.

I LOVE quinoa! It’s definitely one of my favorites. I love to make a veggie fried quinoa (instead of fried rice)!!

i’ve never tried quinoa but now i think i have to 😉

Thank you for posting this. I have a whole bag of raw quinoa and no clue what to do with it. But my question is, do you just eat it plain like that?? How do you season it? Eating it plain, I imagine, is like eating white rice?! Do you like to season yours any particular way?

We love quinoa. I usually cook it in broth. Our favorite recipe & one we have several variations for is like a risotto. Here’s a link to the original recipe.
http://www.ziplist.com/recipes/747792-Einstein_s_Spinach_Quinoa_Risotto_Recipe?return_to=%2Frecipes%2Fbox

I must say, i am looking forward when you bring forth into the world……. chocolate covered quinoa! Or if you were to create a quinoa cheesecake breakfast bowl with a carmeal sauce! Ihop and any breakfast food should start running! 🙂

I like to make summer salads with quinoa-cook it, toss with a lemon-vinaigrette and some beets, onions, goat cheese and stuff. I will make that on Sunday and have it during the week for lunch or as a side dish! It’s one of my favorites

I LOVE LOVE Quinoa. In burgers, chili, pancakes, breakfast bakes, pudding, cookies, everything! I also love it very fluffy, if you’ve never tried toasted quinoa you should! Rinse it and let it dry then toast it in a dry pot for about five minutes or until you smell a nutty smell. So yummy. I also love cooking it with olive oil, coconut oil, earth balance and chopped veggies!

I actually don’t rinse them, I’ve never had trouble with packaged quinoa getting bitter. Instead I put the quinoa dry into the sauce pan and toast it until it smells nutty, then add a teaspoon of olive oil or coconut butter and fry it for a quick second before adding the water (and salt and spices if I’m adding them.) Then bring to boil reduce to simmer and cook until fluffy and the little circles separate from the bulk. It’s fluffy and light with rich nutty flavors at the end.

You are a lifesaver! My fiance hates quinoa because it’s too hard and crunchy. I can stomach it, but it’s not my favorite. This recipe is the best! We can start our healthy-eating journey off right. Thank you! 🙂

I love cooking with quinoa and it would be a delight to see more recipes using it, Katie! My two current personal favorites are these Southwestern Stuffed Peppers (http://healthfulbitesblog.com/southwestern-stuffed-peppers/) and this Quinoa Pizza Pasta Salad (http://healthfulbitesblog.com/pizza-quinoa-pasta-salad/). It’s one of my go-to ingredients of the moment! Can’t wait to try your tots. 🙂

I’ve only ever tried making Quinoa once before and I reeeeally really didn’t like it – of course, I knew it was probably my own fault for not making it properly, but I’ve just never tried again since then. ^^ Now I’m inclined to try again, because whenever you tell me how to cook or bake something, it ends up working out perfectly and deliciously. 😀
So, yeah, thanks! 🙂

Just a little info from a person with a Botany degree- quinoa is not technically a grain, but a seed. It has a much higher protein content than true grain crops as well as a much different nutrient composition. It is a common misconception of those on grain-free diets that they cannot eat quinoa, and that is largely in part due to misinformation.

I could go on…but I won’t. Just wanted to share that tidbit!

I used to love it but now it makes me vomit does anyone know why that is?

As a cancer health educator and nutritionist, I heartily recommend quinoa – loads of nutrients, protein and Omega 3 fatty acids. Brilliant stuff. I cook using less water, 10 minutes simmering and five minutes sitting with the lid on. Always perfect! If you forget to rinse before cooking, you can rescue it by rinsing in running water and briefly reheating. Great hot or cold, even as porridge! Here’s a recent-ish quinoa recipe of mine: http://kelliesfoodtoglow.com/2013/06/07/quinoa-bowl-with-citrus-avocado-and-edamame/ *and* http://kelliesfoodtoglow.com/2012/08/17/tomato-and-skillet-corn-quinoa-salad/. I’m working on a quinoa crusted pie this week. I look forward to some quinoa recipes with the Katie touch!

Yes I love love love quinoa (as much as oats) and use it loads in sweet recipes…mainly cookies and tray bakes. This is one of my favourites: a quinoa banana bread style slice. http://www.includingcake.com/home/2013/7/19/banana-quinoa-slice

I am a quinoa fan. My favorite way to cook it is a variation of something I read in The Engine 2 Diet (where it was used for rice). It’s very simple, too — I replace 1 Tablespoon per cup of water I’m supposed to use with 1 Tbsp Bragg’s. It is great!

I love quinoa…… When it’s still hot I add Parmesan cheese, then cool it and make a salad,, and add my homemade dressing. The best, crunchy veggies, cheese and dressing then whole grain croutons, can’t beat it. Jeanne.

Do you know if you can make quinoa in a rice maker?
Also do you have a good bread recipe, like one you can use for sandwiches?

Yep, I cooked up Quinoa in a slightly different way than what usually would.

I made a large batch of Clam Chowder for New Years, and I was looking to add an additional protein source, so I put cooked up some Quinoa. [a little too much actually — but, ah well, I just made up more soup portion]

I Cooked up the Chowder, and then added these extra ingredients:

Thinly Sliced Radishes – 4 or 5 can fill a lot
Thinly Sliced Baby Carrots – 5 or 6
Chopped Green Onions – 4 or 5 strands
Slice into 4ths, and then into 8ths Spinach Leaves – 10 to 15
Small Chopped Green Bell Pepper – 1 half
Thinly Sliced Mini Red Sweet Peppers – 3
Thinly Sliced Mini Orange Sweet Peppers – 3
Thinly Sliced Mini Yellow Sweet Peppers – 3
Diced Fresh Garlic Clove – 2 quartered pieces

I Stirred them into the Soup portion on medium low heat, then covered, while I waited for the Quinoa to finish cooking (45 mins)

I then cooked up some Free Range Grown Turkey sausage [2 – each about the size of a bratwurst]. {note: I peeled the skin off of the sausage before I cooked them}

I chopped them into small soup sized bits, and added it to the Chowder.

Then the Quinoa was ready, I strained any left over moisture (there was hardly any), and stirred it into the Mix.

Then, to top it off, I sliced up an Avocado.

I ate one Bowl this way, and a second that I added a teaspoon of Spirulina Powder to.

…
If this looks good to you, try it out and lemme know what you think.

I just chuck equal parts quinoa and water into a rice steamer and steam it for 35 minutes. It comes out perfect every time.

I try cooking it ratio 2 water :1quinoa and it comes out too mushy. What am I doing wrong? Same thing: bring to boil, simmer on low 20 minutes. …….. mush. Ugh!

Is there a recipe or way to cook quinoa in the microwave?

Katie I love this! Never buying the precooked frozen quinoa again!

Seriously, thank you for this. I was among those that really didn’t like the texture of quinoa, and now I eat it all the time thanks to your recipe. Also, I have yet to bake something on your site that didn’t turn out awesome. Thank you for all you do!!