How To Cook Quinoa So It Actually Tastes Good
Quinoa is one of those foods that everyone tells you is healthy, but sometimes preparing it can be a mystery. You’ll probably find tons of recipes online each with their own techniques, but here is my tried and true cooking method.
I do a 2:1 ratio of water to quinoa. So if I’m cooking a 1/2 cup of quinoa I will add 1 cup of water or broth. I highly recommend making your own chicken stock or using some kind of broth, otherwise it can sometimes taste bland.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup quinoa (makes one serving)
- 1 cup water or chicken broth
- 2 stalks green onions (chopped)
- 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
1. Put your quinoa and liquid into a pot and cover it with a lid. If you’re using water, add some salt to taste.
2. Bring everything to a boil and immediately turn down the heat to the lowest setting. The quinoa should be gently simmering.
3. Let it simmer on low heat for 15 minutes and then turn off the heat and let it stand covered for another 5-10 minutes. When it’s finished the quinoa should be fluffy and loose with the consistency of properly cooked rice. If it’s sticky and gooey then you’ve added too much water. If it’s crunchy then either it’s not fully cooked or you used high heat and cooked out all the water.
4. This next step will help to infuse more flavor into your quinoa. Put a tablespoon of olive oil in a medium hot skillet and throw your minced garlic in.
5. After the garlic and oil becomes fragrant, throw in your cooked quinoa and green onions. Season it with a little salt and pepper. Add some balsamic vinegar or lemon juice for acidity but don’t overdo it. A teaspoon should work just fine.
6. Mix everything together and saute on medium heat for 1 minute or until the quinoa has browned a little.
I like to serve my quinoa with some pan fried sweet potatoes, sauteed spinach and a sunny side up egg. But you can top it off with anything you like. Salmon is a great pairing if you’re a fish fan. Happy Cooking!
