Uncover our foolproof recipe for cooking perfect quinoa – your go-to guide for this nutritious grain. Whether for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, learn how to make quinoa that's always delicious and fluffy.
Rinse quinoa under cool water using a fine mesh strainer, then drain.
In a medium-sized saucepan, combine quinoa, water (or broth), olive oil, and salt.
Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan. Let it simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove the saucepan from heat and let it stand, covered, for an additional 5 minutes.
Fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Flavor Variations
Garlic and Olive Oil Quinoa: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in the saucepan. Sauté 1 tablespoon freshly minced garlic for 60-90 seconds before adding in quinoa, water, and salt. Follow the basic recipe from there.Parmesan Quinoa: Replace water with 2 1/2 cups chicken broth and olive oil with 1 tablespoon butter. When fluffing the cooked quinoa, slowly sprinkle in 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese.Herbed Chicken Quinoa: Replace water with 2 1/2 cups chicken broth. With the salt, add in 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon each of garlic powder, dried parsley, dried rosemary, and dried thyme, and 1/8 teaspoon dried sage. Follow the basic recipe from there.Mediterranean Quinoa: With the salt, add in 1/2 teaspoon each of ground cumin, onion powder, and dried rosemary, and 1/4 teaspoon each of dried oregano, garlic powder, and ground turmeric, followed by a generous pinch of ground cinnamon. Follow the basic recipe from there.