Quinoa

Quinoa has come a long way — all the way from the back shelves of health food stores to national supermarket aisles. Its high protein content, sweet and nutty flavor, and delicate texture have made quinoa a popular substitute for starchier pasta and rice (although once you try it, you’re not likely to think of it as a “substitute” again!). Quinoa is an easy grain to love.

Several of us here at Kitchn like to make a big pot of quinoa on the weekends and eat it throughout the week with curry, grilled vegetables, or braised meat. It’s one of the most delicious, fast-cooking lunch staples we know. Here’s how to cook great quinoa — not mushy or bitter, but delicate and perfectly fluffy.

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How to Make Fluffy Quinoa

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

What Is Quinoa?

Cultivated in the Andes for over 5,000 years, quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) has been called “the mother grain” and “the gold of the Incas.” Technically, it’s not a grain but a seed, although it is used in virtually all the same ways as other whole grains. The popularity of quinoa has grown steadily over the years, as people have discovered its pleasant nutty taste and superfood qualities. As a complete protein source also high in iron, magnesium, and fiber, quinoa is not only one of our healthiest pantry staples, but also one that’s incredibly easy and quick to cook.

Which Quinoa to Buy?

I’ve read that there are 1,800 (!) varieties of quinoa, but there are three main types found in markets in the U.S.: white, red, and black. White quinoa has the most neutral, easy-to-love flavor — start with this one if you’ve never tried quinoa before. Red and black quinoa both have their own distinct personalities, and I find them to be a little bolder and earthier in flavor than white quinoa. They’re fun in salads or other dishes where their color really pops!

The standard cooking method outlined below will work for any kind of quinoa you find.

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

Why Rinse Quinoa?

Quinoa has a natural coating, called saponin, that can make the cooked grain taste bitter or soapy. Luckily, it’s easy to get rid of this coating by rinsing the quinoa just before cooking. Boxed quinoa is often pre-rinsed, but it doesn’t hurt to give the seeds an additional rinse at home. Some cookbooks suggest soaking the quinoa, but in our experience this is unnecessary.

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What Can I Do with Quinoa?

Use quinoa just as you would any other grain, like rice or barley! It makes a fantastic side dish for almost any meal — especially if you cook it with broth instead of water and add a bay leaf to the pot. I like serving it as a bed for stews or baked fish. Quinoa can also be used in casseroles, breakfast porridges, and salads.

Take a look at the list of recipes below for some ideas! What are your favorite ways to use quinoa?

12 Recipes with Quinoa

• Quinoa with Chickpeas, Asparagus, and Fresh Peas
• Golden Quinoa Salad with Lemon, Dill & Avocado
• Black Bean, Sweet Potato, and Quinoa Chili
• Grilled Halloumi & Quinoa Salad
• Black Bean And Heirloom Tomato Quinoa with Lemon Dressing
• 3-Egg Omelet with Quinoa, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Goat Cheese
• Quinoa Tabbouleh
• Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Dumpling Squash
• Quinoa Salad with Radishes and Greens
• Sweet and Crunchy Quinoa Salad
• Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad
• Tuna & Cucumber Quinoa Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

Basic Quinoa Facts

• How much cooked quinoa does one cup dry quinoa yield? One cup dry quinoa yields about three cups cooked quinoa.
• How much liquid do I need to cook quinoa? To cook one cup quinoa, you need 1 3/4 cups liquid.
• How long does it take to cook quinoa? One cup quinoa will cook in about 20 minutes.
• How do I make quinoa less bitter? Nearly, if not all, of the natural bitterness of quinoa’s outer coating can be removed by a vigorous rinsing in a mesh strainer.
• How do I make better-tasting quinoa? Quinoa is really excellent when cooked in vegetable or chicken broth. Also, add about 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt to each cup dried quinoa when cooking. Try adding other spices and aromatics during cooking as well, like a clove of smashed garlic, a sprig of fresh rosemary, or a dash of black pepper.
• Can I use my rice cooker to make quinoa? Yes! Just use the same liquid-to-quinoa ratio and follow the instructions on your rice cooker.

Tester’s Notes

Many readers found that our original recipe, which called for 1 cup quinoa and 2 cups water, resulted in a gummy product. After testing the original as well as multiple other quinoa-to-water ratios, I discovered that 1 cup quinoa to 1 3/4 cups water is the perfect ratio for perfectly fluffy quinoa. We have updated the recipe to reflect the change.