How to Make Perfect Quinoa (2 ways!)

Learn how to cook perfectly fluffy quinoa 2 ways! It's easy to cook on the stove top or use an Instant Pot for a quick, hands-off method. Either way this nutritious, high protein grain comes out fluffy and flavorful every time.

What is Quinoa, anyway?

Quinoa is an ancient, whole grain that's naturally gluten free and a good source of plant protein, calcium, fiber, and iron. There are several types of quinoa including: black, white, red and tri color. Quinoa is ideal for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free diets.

My family loves quinoa, it's quick and easy to make, is super healthy and extremely versatile. We enjoy it as a side dish, to boost up the protein in dinner salads, as an alternative to rice in Buddha bowls, and to make delicious plant-based meatballs!

Yield: 1 cup dry quinoa = 3 - 3 ½ cups cooked quinoa
Quinoa to Water Ratio: 1 cup quinoa : 1 ¼ cups water (pressure cooker) 1 ¾ cups water (stovetop)

Quinoa Recipe Ingredients

For a basic quinoa recipe you need only 3 ingredients:

1. Quinoa: Any color will work here. Choose white quinoa, black quinoa, red, or tri color.
2. Water: You’ll need slightly less water to cook quinoa in the Instant Pot than you will on the stovetop, as less evaporation occurs in the pressure cooker's sealed chamber.
3. Salt: Pinches of sea salt (or table salt) to season the water.

Seasoning Variations

Quinoa has a nutty flavor on its own, but if you'd like to boost up the flavor, here's a few ideas to try:

• garlic: Add a clove of garlic to the water along with the salt before cooking.
• vegetable broth: Use a flavorful vegetable broth (like Better than Bouillon) in place of water.
• season the water: Add a pinch or two of your favorite seasonings to the water which will infuse the quinoa grains with that flavor.

Easy Quinoa Recipe for Beginners!

Today, I'm going back to basics! Learn to cook perfectly fluffy quinoa on the stovetop or in the pressure cooker (Instant Pot). If I'm being honest, this quinoa recipe post is for my husband who asks me every time how much water to use and how long to cook the quinoa. Let's get into the details for both methods!

How to Cook Quinoa on the Stovetop

This has been my go-to way to cook perfect quinoa for years. It's simple, quick, and reliable. The grains come out light and fluffy, and soft but NOT mushy. Here's the instructions for making a basic quinoa recipe on the stovetop:

1. Rinse the quinoa: Start by rinsing the quinoa in a mesh strainer under cool running water to remove any residual bitter coating (no soaking required).
2. Everything into the pot: Put the rinsed quinoa, water, and a pinch of salt into a pot (that has a tight-fitting lid). Stir together.

3. Time to cook: Bring the mixture up to a boil over medium-high heat. Let it boil for 2 or 3 minutes uncovered.
4. Simmering time: Then reduce the heat to medium low, cover, and let simmer for ~15 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is tender. Use a fork to push some of the quinoa aside to check that the water is mostly absorbed. If not, cook for a few more minutes.

5. Rest & Fluff: Remove from the heat. Leave the lid on the pot and let the quinoa rest undisturbed for 5-10 minutes (or until ready to use), then fluff with a fork and enjoy.

How to tell when stovetop quinoa is cooked (a few tips): When you check on the cooked quinoa, the water will be absorbed. The quinoa will have separated so you'll see little 'tails or germs' curled around the seeds when it's ready. Test a grain or two to see if you like the texture. If you prefer a slightly softer quinoa, add another splash of water and cook (covered) for another minute or two.

How to Make Quinoa in Instant Pot (pressure cooker)

The great thing about pressure cooker quinoa is that it's fast, reliable, and hands free - everything goes into the Instant Pot then set it and forget it. Plus it's light and fluffy - never mushy.

1. Start by rinsing the grains. Place the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer then rinse under cool running water to rinse off the bitter coating.
2. Load up the Instant Pot: Add the rinsed quinoa, water, and pinch of salt to the Instant Pot. Pro Tip: I remove the inner pot to fill it so none of the small grains get into the lid seal.
3. Seal the pressure cooker: Stir to combine the ingredients then add the lid and set the release valve to 'sealing'. Choose Manual/Pressure Cook and set time for 3 minutes on high pressure (by the time the Instant pot builds and releases pressure, the quinoa grains are cooked!).
4. Natural release: When the timer goes off, leave the pressure cooker to naturally release (for ~10 minutes). If the float valve has not dropped, place a kitchen towel over the valve and move it to the 'venting' position to release any additional pressure. Watch out for the steam!
5. Fluff the quinoa: Once the float valve drops, the quinoa is ready to fluff with a fork and serve! Pro Tip: If the quinoa is not soft enough for you, put the lid back on to rest for another 2-5 minutes. I like the texture around 13 minutes of natural release.

Timer Tip: One of the only things I don't love about the Instant Pot is the natural release timer. Once it starts there's no beep or signal when the float valve drops. So I set a timer (on my phone or ask Alexa to set a timer for 10 minutes) to remind me to release and fluff the quinoa.

Quinoa Cooking Tips & FAQ

• Do I need to rinse quinoa?: Quinoa has a natural coating (saponin) that has a bitter/soapy flavor. A quick rinse with a spray nozzle under cold running water helps remove the bitter flavor from quinoa. Bob's Red Mill pre rinses their quinoa, but I rinse it anyway.
• Batch Size vs Cooking Time: If you make a double batch of quinoa, the cook time remains the same.
• Recommended cooking time for black, red, and tri-color quinoa: This recipe is based on white quinoa. I find that colored quinoa typically takes an extra minute or two of cooking to get fluffy and tender. Test as you go to find the perfect texture for your taste.
• Million Dollar Tip: The secret to fluffy quinoa is to leave it to set aftering cooking (with the lid on), undisturbed for 5-10 minutes. Then fluff with a fork.
• Don't throw it out: If your quinoa is a bit too firm for your liking, you can always add a a couple tablespoons more water and cook it for another minute or two or put the lid back on and let it steam longer. Last resort, save it to put in your vegan chili or vegetable bean soup!
• How to store quinoa: Leftover cooked quinoa can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Or once cool, it can be stored in the freezer for several months.

Ways to Use Quinoa

Quinoa (keen-waa) not (keen-oh-waa) is a super versatile, healthy, protein-rich grain (plant) that's a great ingredient to cook with on Meatless Mondays. Here's a few ways to serve quinoa:

Meal prep: I always have a batch of quinoa in the refrigerator (or freezer), my family loves it and we add it to everything like these Mason Salad Jars. It's just as easy to make a double batch if you're cooking it anyway. These are the restaurant storage containers I love for storing my grains, rice, sauces, and everything else. They come in several sizes and are dishwasher safe and freezer friendly too!

Plant based meatballs: Cauliflower quinoa meatballs are healthy, light, and packed with nutrients and protein.

Side dish: Add this healthy grain to any meal in place of rice, barley or couscous to give it an extra bump of plant protein.

Salads and Bowls: Make your dinner salads and vegan bowls heartier with a scoop of quinoa!

Breakfast: Stir leftover, cooked quinoa into your morning oats for an extra bump of nutrients and plant protein. I love it with homemade almond milk and fresh berries.

More High Protein Vegan Recipes

If you're looking for extra plant protein and fiber in a meatless meal, here's a few more tasty recipes:

• Succulent Oven Baked Tofu
• Crispy Black Bean Tacos
• Easy Tofu Scramble (it's the BEST!)
• Vegan Taco Bowl
• Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

If you liked this Cooking Quinoa (2 ways) recipe, please leave a rating and review below! Follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for more delicious vegan recipes.
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