When is comes to cooking Quinoa Grain there are many ways to do it. The way you choose will depend on what texture of quinoa you prefer, what flavoring you prefer, and what type of quinoa recipe you are going to use it in. The most basic way to prepare quinoa grain is by boiling it in water in a similar manner that your would cook rice. You use one part of quinoa to two parts of water. Rinse the quinoa under a tap to get rid of any coating on the seeds (the coating does NOT taste good so rinse well).
Some brands will already be pre-washed and not need the rinsing process. If it needs rinsing you will see a light foam appear when you rinse it. You then bring the quinoa to the boil and then simmer it for 10 – 15 minutes. If you want it firm and crunchy then only boil it for ten minutes. If you want it soft and fluffy then cook it for fifteen minutes. After you have done this a few times you will get to know how you like it.
Adding Flavor To Quinoa Grain
As well as boiling quinoa in plain water you can use vegetable stock or meat stock to boil it in. This will infuse the quinoa with the stock flavor (yum!). Some people also add olive oil to the water. You can also add any herb or spice you want to experiment with. What ever you add will add this flavor to the grains you are cooking. This is good when you are using it as a plain meal accompaniment as it gives it a bit of flavor without overpowering it.
Cook Quinoa in a Microwave?
Yes, you can also cook quinoa in a microwave, but really it isn’t any quicker than the standard method of cooking quinoa on the stove top and it does take more watching than boiling. It’s just a matter of preference – try both ways of cooking quinoa and see which works best for you.
That’s the FUN part about cooking with quinoa – the experimenting!
Want to try some really easy, fast, and great-tasting quinoa recipes?
If you are making a soup, risotto or a casserole then you do not need to prepare quinoa in this way. You can simply add it to the other ingredients and it will bulk up during the cooking process. You may need to add some more liquid because quinoa absorbs a lot of the moisture in the recipe. It will also slightly thicken the recipes which means you can reduce the amount of cornflower or other thickening agents you might be using. Your meals will feel much more satisfying and filling and you will feel fuller for longer because quinoa is a complex carbohydrate.
Not only is quinoa satisfying, great-tasting, and easy to cook with, it is also VERY good for you! Read all about Quinoa Nutritional Facts here.
You can add the seeds into cakes, cookies and scone recipes. It has to be prepared using the boiling method described above. You can also make them into a wonderful quinoa breakfast cereal and add fruit to give it a more interesting flavor.
