Home » HOW TO » The Best Way to Cook Quinoa

The Best Way to Cook Quinoa

  • Marlon Mata
  • June 4, 2011

Many of you have probably heard about this “grain”. How it tastes good, how it complements many dishes, and how it can be best prepared. The problem so far lies in the latter description.

How does someone cook quinoa properly?

To start with, quinoa is, strictly speaking, not a grain. It has no relation at all with rice, wheat, barley, or even rye. In fact, the closest relatives of the quinoa plant are beets and spinach. Its edible seeds have a nutty taste, and have a slight hint of grass in it. When cooked, it attains a transparent appearance and a soft texture. It is high in proteins (it is considered to be a complete protein source for humans), and is gluten-free. It also has high amounts of fiber and other minerals such as iron and magnesium.

Now here is the tricky part: which dish would quinoa work well with?

If you think risotto would be the answer, then you can forget it. Perfect risotto should be creamy, something that is not possible with low-starch quinoa. In addition, cooked quinoa seeds can be either too fluffy or too granular to suit risottos.

The Best Way to Cook QuinoaThe answer lies in mixing and matching.

Quinoa is perfect as an ingredient in salads. Potatoes, lettuce, carrots, and even beets often improve in taste when cooked quinoa is added to the mix. Pour some vinaigrette, or a ladle of mayonnaise, and it is the perfect side dish for any meal. Pilaf recipes can also benefit from quinoa, with its grassy tones adding a unique twist on rice and lentils. Even baked goods like muffins and cupcakes get a nutrition take when one adds quinoa into the batter. Some would even add quinoa grains into soups as a thickener, or as a protein alternative for vegetarians.

A little creativity, as well as inventiveness, can actually make quinoa one of the most ideal ingredients in cooking. One would only have to try it.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments