Learn my foolproof method for cooking quinoa on the stove. And so you'll always have a perfectly cooked and fluffy quinoa, regardless of the color of quinoa you're using.
Also, in this post, I'm going to answer all your questions, including cooking time (for white, red, black, and tricolor quinoa), the best ratio of water to quinoa, and ways to make it tastier.
WHAT IS QUINOA?
Quinoa is an ancient grain (pseudo-grain) with nut flavor, originating in the Andes mountain range of South America. Considered one of the healthiest foods on the planet, as it is highly nutritious and packed with various minerals and vitamins. In addition, quinoa is considered a "complete protein," a term used for foods that contain all nine essential amino acids that our body cannot produce on its own.
Vegan Date Milk Candy
HOW TO PREPARE QUINOA IN GRAINS?
- Measure quinoa: If you're going to cook white, red, black, or tricolor quinoa, I recommend measuring it first. I usually use a cup measurement, but you can find detailed weight information below, to measure different types of quinoa:
- 1 cup dried white quinoa (raw): 190 gr.
- 1 cup of dried red quinoa (also known as brown quinoa): 198 gr.
- 1 cup dried black quinoa: 198 gr.
- 1 cup tricolor quinoa (also known as rainbow quinoa): 201 gr.
2. Rinse the quinoa in cold running water: To rinse the quinoa, place it in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse thoroughly in cold water for 30 to 60 seconds or until clean water runs.
ATTENTION: The quantities of the ingredients are described in detail at the bottom of the page on the Recipe Card. Here I explain the ingredients of the recipe and their functions or substitutions. Keep reading to the end to see the full recipe!\
WHY RINSE QUINOA?
Quinoa has a natural coating called saponin, which is a chemical compound with a bitter taste. By washing the quinoa (much of the saponins are removed) so that the amino acids are more available.
Although most quinoa sold today on the market has its saponin removed, rinsing the quinoa ensures that any remaining saponin residue is fully removed, thus ensuring that its bitter taste is not passed on to your perfectly cooked quinoa.
WHAT IS THE RATIO OF QUINOA TO WATER?
When it comes to cooking quinoa on the stove, regardless of the color of the quinoa you're using (i.e., white, red, black, and tricolor quinoa), the ratio of quinoa to water is 1 to 2.
In other words, for every 1 cup of quinoa, you use 2 cups of liquid. In terms of liquid, you can use water, chicken broth or vegetable broth. After quinoa is cooked, it can still feel a little damp, so it's important to let it sit for at least 10 minutes.
HOW TO COOK QUINOA IN GRAINS?
The basic process for cooking quinoa on the stove is as follows:
Place the rinsed and drained quinoa, the water (or chicken broth or vegetable broth) and a pinch of salt (optional) in a pan with a tight lid. Mix.
Leave the heat at medium-high and bring to a boil. It should take about 3-4 minutes to boil.
As soon as it starts to boil, lower the heat, cover and bring to a boil.
Although the walkthrough photos I'm sharing here show cooking instructions for white quinoa, you can use the same method to cook black, red, and tricolor quinoa.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COOKING QUINOA:
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COOK QUINOA?
Now, you might be wondering, what is the ideal time to cook quinoa? During my tests of how to cook quinoa, I found that the weather changes based on the type of quinoa you're using. The darker the quinoa, the longer it takes to be ready. White quinoa takes about 15 minutes to complete, but darker quinoa can take up to 5 minutes longer to cook. (The weather can also change based on the brand you're using.)
HOW TO KNOW WHEN QUINOA IS COOKED?
You'll know the quinoa is ready when most of the liquid in the pan is absorbed through small air holes on the surface, and some of the quinoa seeds look like they've been opened.
WHAT SHOULD I DO, IF I GET LIQUID IN THE PAN, AFTER COOKING THE QUINOA?
During my tests of how to cook quinoa, I learned that while the general liquid of 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups of liquid works for most brands of packaged quinoa, with some brands, I was left with some liquid at the bottom even after the cooking time was completed and my quinoa seemed to be fully cooked.
- If this happens to you, you can do one of two things:
- Drain the liquid: Let the quinoa sit for 10 minutes and drain the liquid using a sieve.
Let it rest more: Let it sit with the lid for about 30 minutes. It should absorb all the liquid as it settles. The texture may be a little pasty, but you'll still have a perfectly cooked quinoa.
HOW SHOULD I COOK QUINOA TO GET FLUFFY?
Once the quinoa is cooked, turn off the heat and let it sit for 10 minutes. When you're ready to serve, gently stroke with a fork.
During my tests of how to cook quinoa, I discovered that letting it sit in the pan with the lid and without touching, is the secret to a perfectly cooked quinoa. Plus, quinoa gets perfect every time. If you skip this step, you'll probably be left with a pasty, slightly sticky quinoa.
HOW MUCH DOES 1 CUP OF QUINOA YIELD?
- First, the answer to this question depends on the type of quinoa you are using. Therefore, see below for the measurements:
- White quinoa: 1 cup of dried quinoa yields approximately 3 <>/<> cups of cooked quinoa.
- Red quinoa: 1 cup of red quinoa yields approximately 4 cups of cooked red quinoa.
- Black quinoa: 1 cup of black quinoa yields approximately 3 <>/<> cups of cooked quinoa.
- Tricolor Quinoa (also known as multicolor): 1 cup of multicolor quinoa yields approximately 4 cups of cooked quinoa.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO STORE COOKED QUINOA?
DOES QUINOA ABSORB WATER LIKE RICE?
WHAT IS THE IDEAL SERVING SIZE OF QUINOA PER PERSON?
How to Cook Quinoa in Grains
MAKINGS
- 1 cup white quinoa
- 2 cups of water, chicken broth or vegetable broth also work
- ½ teaspoon of salt, optional
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place the raw quinoa in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse in cold water.
- Place the rinsed and drained quinoa, water (or chicken broth or vegetable broth) and a pinch of salt (optional) in a pan with a tight lid. Mix.
- Leave the heat at medium-high and bring to a boil. It should take about 3-4 minutes to boil.
- As soon as it starts boiling, lower the heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed.
- Turn off the heat and let it sit for 10 minutes (covered). Stroke with a fork and serve.