Perfect Fluffy Quinoa (Stovetop Recipe)

Recipe and tips for cooking white quinoa perfectly on the stovetop so that it's like a fluffy pilaf.

Course Any

Cuisine South American

Keyword how to cook quinoa

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Resting Time 5

Total Time 25

Servings cups

Calories 214.1kcal

Author Susan Pridmore

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

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.

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.