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    Home » THE BASICS

    Perfect Fluffy Quinoa (Stovetop) + 5 Quinoa Recipes

    July 18, 2021 Leave a Comment

    Recipe and tips on how to cook white quinoa perfectly so that it's like a fluffy pilaf. At the bottom are 5 of my favorite quinoa recipes that show fabulous ways to use your next batch of perfectly fluffy quinoa.

    Make a batch of this quinoa and use it all through the week in salads, burritos with black beans, soups, casseroles, and stir-fries.

    Updated May 4, 2022

    Pot of cooked white quinoa in a Le Creuset pot.

    If you're trying to get more plant-based protein into your diet, or looking for a gluten-free alternative to wheat-based grains, quinoa should be one of your staples. It does all this and delivers valuable nutrients to your meals.

    Making quinoa is easy, but there are a few steps to making sure you get a perfect, fluffy quinoa.

    Jump to:
    • What is quinoa?
    • Types of quinoa
    • Is quinoa high in protein?
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions for Fluffy Quinoa
    • Recommended Equipment
    • FAQ for cooking quinoa
    • Perfect Fluffy Quinoa (Stovetop Recipe)
    • 5 Fabulous Ways to Use Quinoa!

    What is quinoa?

    Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is technically a seed from a plant related to spinach, beets and Swiss chard. Its germ, which is the equivalent of a yolk in an egg, is arguably the most power-packed part of any know seed. In most grains, the germ is little more than a speck. But quinoa's germ completely surrounds the rest of the seed.

    Types of quinoa

    The 3 most commonly found types of quinoa are white, red and black.

    White quinoa is most common variety found in markets. It has the most delicate taste and cooks up the lightest and fluffiest of all the varieties you might see. This is your pick for a fluffy pilaf.

    White quinoa cooks up in about 15 minutes.

    Red quinoa is slightly chewier and a more savory flavor than white quinoa. It holds its shape better during cooking, making this variety a great choice in salads. It boasts more antioxidants than white quinoa.

    Red quinoa takes a few more minutes to cook than white quinoa - typically 17-18 minutes.

    Black quinoa has a texture similar to red quinoa, and an earthy sweet flavor. It has the lowest fat content of the 3, but also the lowest iron value.

    The cooking time is similar to red quinoa.

    Pot of cooked red quinoa in a Le Creuset pot.

    Is quinoa high in protein?

    Quinoa is one of the best non-animal food sources of complete protein. First of all, it's high in plant protein and fiber, with 8 grams of protein in 1 cup of cooked quinoa. Even better, quinoa has all the nine essential amino acids that your body needs, which you can get only from your diet.

    If you're trying to follow a more vegetarian diet, check out this post on how much protein you need every day and ways to get it.

    Ingredients

    • Quinoa - either white, red or black
    • Water or broth - I sometimes add 1 teaspoon of Better Than Bouillon Roasted Vegetable Flavor to the water
    • Kosher salt

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to products and foods I use in my kitchen. This means that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. To view my entire storefront of recommended kitchen tools and equipment, check out my shop on Amazon.

    Instructions for Fluffy Quinoa

    The biggest problem when cooking quinoa, is ending up with a pot of mush. If you want fluffy quinoa that's more pilaf than, say, oatmeal, you've come to the right place.

    Step 1 (3 minutes)

    Rinse the quinoa. Most pre-packaged quinoa today has been pre-washed, but I still recommend rinsing it before cooking. Spill the uncooked seeds into a large bowl, add enough water to cover them by an inch, and gently rub the seeds between your hands until the water becomes cloudy, usually less than 10 seconds. Dump the seeds into a fine mesh strainer, and rinse.

    Repeat 2 more times.

    Step 2 (15-18 minutes)

    Cook the quinoa. Combine the water (or broth), quinoa and salt in a medium pot, cover and simmer for 15 minutes for white quinoa, and a few extra minutes for either red or black quinoa.

    Feel free to add additional spices to the water for added flavor. Quinoa on its own is quite bland. Nutmeg goes surprisingly well with quinoa. I've also used smoked paprika.

    The cooking time is affected by the material the pot is made out of and the amount of heat used. So you may need to experiment a little with your first batch.

    Step 3 (10 minutes)

    Steam finish. Check the quinoa. The liquid should be completely absorbed. If it isn't increase the heat the boil it off. Cooked quinoa has a little white “tail” that uncurls that's easily visible. This is the super-nutritious germ. 

    Remove the pot from the heat, cover it again, and let sit for 10 minutes. This step is key for a fluffy quinoa.

    Step 4 (1 minute)

    Fluff. Remove the pot lid and fluff the cooked quinoa using a fork. Serve.

    Recommended Equipment

    Medium or large bowl

    Fine mesh strainer

    Medium pot

    FAQ for cooking quinoa

    Do I need to rinse packaged quinoa?

    Yes. This removes the bitter-tasting saponin covering of the seed. Saponin is a natural protection from pests for the quinoa plant as it grows, but can be a digestive irritant when consumed. Packaged quinoa has generally been pre-rinsed, but I still remove a lot with a couple vigorous rinses (see Step 1 in the above instructions.

    What is the ratio of water to quinoa?

    At sea level, I find a 1 : 1 ratio works best. In very dry climates and high altitude, you will need a little more water. At 7100 feet where I live in the mountains, 1 ¼ cups of water for every 1 cup quinoa is perfect every time.

    How long will cooked quinoa last?

    Cooked quinoa can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Store it in recycled jars or plastic-free bags Stasher bags. It can be frozen for up to 8 - 10 months. I recommend freezing it in Stasher bags, as they're air-tight.

    Want more vegetarian and vegan dish ideas? I can help you. I have three newsletters for different topics: 1) Vegetarian Recipes, 2) Vegetarian Meal Plans, and 3) Vegetarian Tips for helping you to move to a more vegetarian diet. Choose which newsletters are most relevant to your lifestyle and you'll also get my 5 SECRETS TO FUSS-FREE VEGETARIAN DINNERS.


    Pot of cooked white quinoa in a Le Creuset pot.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Perfect Fluffy Quinoa (Stovetop Recipe)

    Recipe and tips for cooking white quinoa perfectly on the stovetop so that it's like a fluffy pilaf.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time15 mins
    Resting Time5 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Course: Any
    Cuisine: South American
    Keyword: how to cook quinoa
    Servings: 3 cups
    Calories: 214.1kcal
    Author: The Wimpy Vegetarian

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup quinoa white, red or black
    • 1 ¼ cups water, or vegetable broth
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon Vegetable Better Than Bouillon paste optional instead of vegetable broth

    Instructions

    Rinse the Quinoa

    • Pour the quinoa into a medium or large bowl, and add enough water to cover it by about an inch. Gently rub the quinoa between your hands for 10-15 seconds to remove the bitter saponin coating.
    • Strain the quinoa through a fine mesh strainer and spray with water for 20 seconds to rinse very well. Repeat 2 more times.

    Cook the Quinoa

    • Spill the rinsed quinoa into a medium pot, and add the water and salt.
    • Pro-tip: Use either vegetable broth or 1 teaspoon Vegetable Better Than Bouillon to the water for more flavor. Add addition spices if desired, such as smoked paprika or nutmeg.
    • Cover the pot and bring to a light boil. Reduce the heat to a low simmer for 15 minutes. Depending upon what your pot is made out of, you may need to move the lid slightly to the side to vent the pot to keep it at a low simmer.
    • Once all the liquid is absorbed, remove from the heat, and keep covered for 10 minutes.
    • Remove the lid and fluff with a fork.

    Nutrition

    Sodium: 674.7mg | Calcium: 29.8mg | Vitamin A: 7.9IU | Sugar: 0.1g | Fiber: 4g | Potassium: 319.1mg | Calories: 214.1kcal | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.9g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Fat: 3.9g | Protein: 8.1g | Carbohydrates: 36.7g | Iron: 2.6mg

    5 Fabulous Ways to Use Quinoa!

    ZUCCHINI FRITTERS WITH QUINOA, POTATOES AND FETA CHEESE

    Get the recipe!

    Zucchini and quinoa fritters with a few scattered sprouts.

    HEALTHY MEXICAN CASSEROLE WITH QUINOA

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    Casserole dish of cherry tomatoes, peppers, and black beans topped with cheese and roasted pumpkin seeds.

    BROCCOLI CASSEROLE WITH CHEESE AND QUINOA

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    Casserole of broccoli, quinoa, and cheese, topped with breadcrumbs.

    VEGAN QUINOA-BLACK BEAN WRAP WITH HUMMUS

    Get the recipe!

    Two flour tortilla wraps filled with quinoa, black beans, tomatoes, corn and hummus.

    QUINOA SALAD WITH AVOCADO, BLACK BEANS AND GRAPES

    Get the recipe!

    Salad bowl of quinoa, black beans, slices of avocado, grapes and a little lime and cilantro on top.
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    I'm a mostly vegetarian married to a mostly carnivore and am on a constant hunt for healthy, delicious recipes we'll both like. Most recipes here are vegetarian with tips for adding meat or fish for the meat-eaters at the table. Whether you're vegetarian, or just wanting to eat less meat, I hope you'll find inspiration here to try something new for your own table, even if you're sharing it with someone with different eating preferences.

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