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Quinoa in a glass meal prep container.

How to Cook Quinoa

Learn how to cook quinoa on the stove, in a rice cooker, or using an Instant Pot, and achieve fluffy, flavorful quinoa with ease!
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine South American
Servings 2 servings
Calories 240 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Medium Pot
  • 1 Rice Cooker
  • 1 Instant Pot

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup uncooked quinoa rinsed and drained*
  • 2 cups water or broth

Instructions
 

Stovetop:

  • Rinse the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear.
    1 cup uncooked quinoa
  • Combine the quinoa and water (or broth) in a medium pot, and bring the liquid to a boil over high heat.
    2 cups water or broth
  • Cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium, and simmer until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
  • Remove the pot from the heat, and let the quinoa stand, covered, for 10 minutes.
  • Fluff with a fork, and getcha some of that!

Rice Cooker:

  • Rinse the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear.
  • Combine the quinoa and water (or broth) in a rice cooker.
  • Cover, and turn on the rice cooker. Cook for about 30 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed.
  • Let stand for about 10 minutes. Then, fluff with a fork, and serve.

Instant Pot:

  • Rinse the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear.
  • Combine the quinoa and water (or broth) in a 6-quart Instant Pot.
  • Secure the lid, and pressure cook on HIGH for 1 minute. NOTE: It will take a few minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure!
  • Allow the pressure to release naturally.
  • Carefully remove the lid, fluff with a fork, and serve.

Notes

*You do not have to wash and rinse quinoa if you buy pre-washed and rinsed quinoa from the store.
Add More Flavor: For even more flavor, feel free to include bay leaves, cloves, garlic, or any herbs and spices you like best when combining the quinoa and liquid. 
Storage: Let the cooked quinoa cool completely. Then, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 3-5 days or freeze it for up to 3 months.
The calorie count is based on a serving size of 200 grams of cooked quinoa. The macro breakdown is as follows:
  • serving size = 20 grams (cooked)
  • Carbohydrates = 43 grams
  • Fat = 4 grams
  • Protein = 9 grams
 
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