3 Most Popular Ways of Cooking Quinoa
Boiling
This method is quick and simple. In a large pot of boiling water, add the amount of quinoa you wish to cook. Cook the quinoa uncovered for 10-12 minutes. Drain well. This method can be likened to cooking pasta.
Absorption
First, measure out the dry quinoa. Remember it doubles in size during cooking. The quinoa to water ratio is 2 cups of water for every cup of quinoa. Rinse the quinoa well. Place into a saucepan and add cold water. Toss in a dash of salt. Cover and bring to a boil. As soon it starts to boil, turn the heat down to a simmer. Set the lid ajar in order to prevent boiling over. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
You can tell when the quinoa is fully cooked because it goes a bit transparent, and sprouts a small “tail”. If the quinoa is cooked and there is still water in the bottom of the saucepan, leave the lid off completely for a few minutes until the water evaporates. Let sit for 5 minutes. Use a fork to fluff it up.
Steaming
Steaming is the third method for cooking quinoa and although it is the most time consuming, it produces beautifully cooked seeds. Using this method, the seed slowly absorbs moisture and cooks very evenly. You steam quinoa just as you would steam rice, although it is wise to soak the grain overnight or at least for several hours before cooking. For extra flavor, you can add spices or chicken bullion into the water. If convenience is a priority, then a rice cooker can also be used to prepare quinoa.
Rinse the quinoa. Bring two cups of water to a boil for every cup of quinoa (just like rice). If you prefer your food more al dente, use a little less water. Add the quinoa, cover and reduce to a simmer. Allow to cook for 12-15 minutes, or until the germ separates from the seed. The cooked germ looks like a tiny curl. Let the quinoa stand for about 3 minutes to become fully fluffy.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I just cooked Quinoa for the first time. I made a big pot of vegetable soup with Quinoa. There is hardly any liquid. Did the Q absorb 8 cups of water? Should I heat extra vegetable broth and add it to the heated Q and veggie?
THanks for your help.
Absolutely. The quinoa absorbs liquid much like rice does when it cooks. So if you are cooking soup, be sure you have lots of extra liquid!
I add about 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar when soaking quinoa, then I rinse it before cooking it in fresh water. It removes the bitter tannins and gives it a sweet flavor. I am still working on the water ratio. It is difficult to know how much water to add when you presoak grains since they already absorbed some water. Do you have any tips?
Hi Sara!
I will have to try the vinegar! Thanks for the tip! When you presoak grains, the normal cooking time gets cut down, so they cook more quickly. I haven’t tried presoaking quinoa, but I would think it to be somewhat similar to presoaking rice. Let us know what you figure out!
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