Quinoa is my favorite of all the grains and it’s gluten free so it’s an essential pantry item at my house. It is infinitely adaptable and packed with protein and fiber. Here is the ultimate guide to How to Cook Quinoa.
Learning how to cook quinoa is one of the most basic of the cooking skills! I make quinoa weekly and keep it in the fridge all week for salads, grain bowls and dinner side dishes. I love having a healthy grain at the ready when hunger strikes.
WHAT IS QUINOA
Quinoa is a technically a seed but it is categorized as a whole grain because of the way we eat it. It’s available in black, white, red and yellow varieties. Many people consider quinoa to be a superfood.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF QUINOA
- Quinoa is packed with protein at 8g per cup and all the essential amino acids. It’s a great plant based source of protein for vegans.
- It contains more fiber than other grains with 5 grams per cup. Fiber helps you to stay full longer, improves digestion and helps to promote good gut flora. Most Americans do not get enough daily fiber. You should get at least 28g per day.
- Quinoa contains manganese, folate, copper, phosphorous, iron, lysine and zinc.
- Quinoa is especially beneficial when it replaces other less healthy grains like rice and wheat.
- Quinoa is low fat and cholesterol free
- Quinoa is a low glycemic index carb which can help you feel full longer.
- Quinoa is gluten free! If you want to learn more about going gluten free check out my Gluten Free Guide.
HOW TO COOK QUINOA ON THE STOVE
Quinoa is fairly easy to cook but it’s not incredibly forgiving. If you add too much water or cook it for too long you will have a mess. I have learned this from experience! Now I make it the exact same way every time I prep it for the week.
- Add two cups of water or chicken broth to a medium sized pot with one cup of quinoa.
- Salt well – I like to use course salt.
- Turn heat to high and bring to a boil. Make sure this a full boil where you can see bubbles all along the sides of the pot.
- Turn heat down to low and cover with a lid. Set timer for 15 minutes.
- When timer goes off, remove from heat and let sit five minutes with the lid on.
- Fluff well with a fork and serve or pack away for healthy meals all week.
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