As a gluten-free option to grains, and as a part of healthy meal prep, this is how to cook quinoa like pasta so it’s light, fluffy and cooked perfectly tender every time.
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In this era of eating more superfoods, quinoa is a fantastic way to get loads of healthy plant-based protein.
โWhile no single food can supply all the essential life sustaining nutrients, quinoa comes as close as any other in the plant or animal kingdom.โ Now that’s a pretty head statement to make! But quinoa lives up to its hype.
Quinoa is quick to cook, but when I followed the popular method of cooking it like rice, I found myself adding more and more water because it wasn’t cooked through, but when I added more water, it would turn mushy and gloopy. That’s when I discovered that when I boil it like pasta, it comes out perfect every time.
Ready in just about 15 minutes, quinoa keeps well in the refrigerator for about a week, making it perfect for meal prep and batch cooking to add to salads, grain bowls, soups, chilis, and stews or served on the side with grilled veggies and meats.
What Is Quinoa?
Quinoa is one of my favorite vegetarian protein sources, probably because itโs so unassuming. Like a seventh grade girl, it takes on the flavors itโs paired with but has a whole lot of power ready to bloom in the shadows.
I first heard of quinoaโand commonly mispronounced itโ25 years ago when I was the art director for a health food magazine. Back then you could only find it in hippie dippie health food stores. Now, it’s seen everywhere including restaurants, cafรฉs, and your neighborhood grocery store.
Known as one of nature’s superfoods, quinoa (KEEN-wah) is a carbohydrate that’s extra rich in protein, dietary fiber, B vitamins, and dietary minerals. Technically a seed, quinoa is a gluten-free nutritional powerhouse that bears the distinction as one of the few whole grain plant foods to contain all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete proteins comparable to red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt.
Why Quinoa Is Good for You
In fact, 1 cup of quinoa provides twice the protein plus about 5 grams more fiber than the same amount of cooked white rice, making it a favorite plant-based protein for vegetarians and vegans. As a combo carb/protein, it fills you up faster and sticks with you longer.
With 8 grams of protein in each cup, quinoa is high in fiber, magnesium, iron and antioxidants, and an optimal protein source for plant-based, vegetarian, and vegan diets.
It’s prepared and eaten like a grain and is a popular choice for healthy diets in everything from breakfast bowls to salads and chili.
Types of Quinoa
As an ancient grain, quinoa has been farmed by the Incas in the Andes mountains for thousands of years and produced over 120 varieties. These days, quinoa is found at most any supermarket with the most common types being white, red, black, or as a mix.
The three varieties are mostly similar in their nutty taste with white quinoa being the most mellow and neutral tasting of the three, and red and black quinoa tasting somewhat earthier.
How to Cook QuinoaโBoil It Like Pasta
No matter which variety of quinoa you choose, the cooking method is the same for all three to be ready in about 15 minutes.
Conventional teachings instruct the home cook to prepare quinoa the same as rice, in portions of two parts water to one part quinoa that’s brought to a boil, then covered and simmered until done.
Of course you can follow this method, but I rarely find success. I end up running out of water, then adding more until the quinoa is tender, and ending in a gummy mess.
That’s why I use a different cooking method and cook quinoa just like pasta:
- Bring a pot of water with the quinoa to a boil with a generous pinch of kosher salt. Adding it before the water comes to a boil helps soften the seeds.
- Boil for 8-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. It’s done with the grain’s little quinoa tails emerge and the quinoa is a tender bite.
- Drain in a fine mesh strainer and return to the pot.
- If serving warm, return the hot quinoa to the pot after draining. Fluff with a fork and cover the pot with a dish towel then top with a lid to absorb some of the excess moisture. This step makes the quinoa more fluffy as it sits and keeps warm.
- If eating the quinoa at room temperature, drain, then spread the quinoa on a plate or a baking sheet to cool and dry so it doesnโt get clumpy and gummy.
Quinoa is often sold pre-washed, but if you’re not sure, it’s safest to rinse and drain it in a colander before cooking to remove it’s natural coating which can taste bitter.
If you prefer an even deeper nutty taste, toast the quinoa in a dry fry pan for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant before boiling.
1 cup of dried quinoa typically yields about 3 cups of cooked quinoa.
How to Tell When Quinoa Is Done
You’ll know quinoa is done cooking when it becomes slightly transparent and the seeds pop open so the quinoa’s “tails” appear and the seeds have a tender bite when tested.
Flavor Enhancers
Quinoa takes on the flavors it’s paired with so adding other ingredients to it while cooking infuses it from within. Here’s a few ideas:
- Add a pinch of salt to the boiling water to flavor the quinoa as it cooks.
- Add a few cloves of smashed garlic (discard when draining).
- Cook with broth instead of water for more infused flavor.
- Cook with herbs like thyme, marjoram, bay leaves, cloves, allspice, or peppercorns.
- To cool the quinoa to store for later, spread the warm quinoa on a baking sheet and fluff to cool.
Recipes With Quinoa to Try Now
Serve as a side dish or vegetarian main when you make it in the recipes below.
- Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
- Thai Quinoa Salad
- Gluten-Free Quinoa And Cauliflower Chowder
- Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowl With Broccoli And Tomato
- Spiralized Zucchini, Quinoa And Turkey Sausage Stuffed Peppers
- Strawberry And Quinoa Parfait
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave aย ย rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo andย tag me on Instagramย with #foodiecrusheats.
How to Cook Perfect Quinoa
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer under cold water. Add the water to the pan with the quinoa and kosher salt. Bring to a boil.
- Boil the quinoa like pasta, until al dente and the centers become transparent, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 12 minutes. Drain, fluff with a fork, and return the quinoa to the pot, cover with a kitchen towel and a lid and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Serve warm, or spread the quinoa on a rimmed baking sheet and let cool.
- Cooked quinoa can be stored in a sealed container and refrigerated for up to 5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
More Basic Recipes to Meal Prep and Batch Cook Now
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Aletta Murray
Gosh, I was very intimidated but with your help, I am more confident in the kitchen. Thank you so, so much!
Patti
Thanks for the cooking tips, that was so helpful. Itโs no longer intimidating . Iโm gonna give it a try. I love FoodieCrush.
Give it a go Patti :) It’s good for you!
Sue
I wish your opening quote had indicated the source where you found it…who exactly said that? That being said, as a result of this post, I am more likely to add quinoa to our meals. It might seem more edible to us now.
Hi Sue, the source for the quote is linked to the quote.