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You can learn how to cook quinoa, the protein-packed superfood you can use for healthy lunches, dinners, and snacks, in just a few simple steps.
How to Cook Quinoa
There are actually a million and one ways to cook quinoa. Just Google it and you’ll quickly find that you can use a rice cooker, a slow cooker, a pressure cooker, a microwave, or, my preferred method, a regular ol’ saucepan.
Quinoa is covered with this bitter, almost soapy tasting coating called saponin, so I always break out my fine mesh strainer and give it a good rinse in cold water. I used to soak my quinoa before cooking, but I recently read that soaking it can actually cause it to absorb the saponin, so I ditched that extra step.
After rinsing, just dump the quinoa into the sauce pan and add the broth. I use low sodium chicken broth, because it adds extra flavor, but you can just use plain ol’ water for basic quinoa. You definitely wouldn’t want to use broth for a sweet quinoa recipe! If I don’t have chicken broth on hand, I’ll toss in a bouillon cube. Sometimes I add diced onions or minced garlic to add more flavor, depending on what I’m using the quinoa for.
Bring it to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed, which should take around 15 minutes.
That’s it! Now you have fluffy, super-food, protein-packed goodness, ready to top with grilled salmon or mix with black beans and corn, or use in your favorite quinoa bite.
Basic Quinoa
- Yield: ~3 cups
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1 cup quinoa, uncooked
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
Instructions
- In a fine mesh strainer, rinse quinoa thoroughly.
- Pour into a saucepan.
- Add broth.
- Turn burner to medium-high and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until all liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork and serve.
I’m excited to have found your blog. The recipes look super good and doable in my tiny kitchen. Congratulations on your first 1/2 marathon! That’s awesome, looking forward to catching up on your posts.
Thanks so much, Alissa! I’m excited we found each others’ blogs!
I really enjoyed your posts – website – blogspot. Whatever. I was looking for gluten free recipes for a birthday party and I think I found the answer with these pizza bites.
Thank you for sharing your life/story/s. Very fun and inspiring May God bless you richly this 2015 as you follow Him!
Thank you so much, Dawna! That’s so kind of you to say. God bless you, too!