20 Sweet and Savory Ways to Make Quinoa (2024)

Quinoa is super trendy right now, but it's probably sticking around for the long haul, so you need to know what to do with it! Why is quinoa so popular? It is a complete protein and gluten-free, so it's great if you're trying to cut gluten, go Paleo or vegetarian, or just want to add an interesting grain to your diet (though it's technically a seed!).

So, how do you make quinoa? It's about as simple as making rice, but there are a few extra steps. Even if your bag of quinoa says it's pre-rinsed, you're going to want to rinse that stuff, otherwise it will taste bitter after it's cooked. Here are some quinoa cooking basics:

Many directions say to use 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water, but it might be better to use a little less water so the quinoa is less mushy when it's done cooking. 1 part quinoa to 1 ½ or 1 ¾ parts water should do it. Adjust to your preference!
Place quinoa in a fine mesh strainer then rinse under running water for 2–4 minutes, constantly rubbing the quinoa in the water with your hands. The more rinsing you do, the better!
Let quinoa sit in the strainer for about 20 minutes, tossing it around every once in a while, to dry.
Over medium heat in a large pot, toast the quinoa with just a swig of olive oil for 1–2 minutes, to help dry it out a little more.
Add water and a few pinches of salt, raise heat to high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover and lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Just like rice, don't lift the lid during cooking!
After 15 minutes, remove pot from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff and serve! Or, better yet, use your quinoa in one of these amazing savory and sweet recipes!

The Sweet Side of Quinoa

1. Coconut Quinoa Bites