Quinoa is quick and easy to cook in a pot with boiling water.

You can cook quinoa for meal prep and keep it in the fridge, ready to use in salads, veggie burgers, and grain bowls.

It’s a nourishing alternative to pasta and rice and rich in fulfilling protein.

cooked quinoa in a blue bowl with a fork

What’s quinoa?

raw quinoa on a plate

Quinoa is a seed, but you can use it like a grain, such as rice, barley, farro, or even pasta.

It cooks in 10 to 12 minutes, and it can be added to recipes ranging from salad bowls to veggie burgers.

There are several types of quinoa, the most common being white, red, black, and tri-color quinoa.

Thanks to its slightly nutty and mostly neutral flavor, it pairs well with most vegetables and dressings, making it a versatile grain substitute.

quinoa salad after mixing in a white bowl with corn

Our readers’ favorite recipes are our easy quinoa salad, kale quinoa salad, quinoa chickpea salad, and quinoa lentil salad.

As you can see, quinoa is not only delicious with veggies but also pairs well with legumes, both nutritionally and flavor-wise.

They make delicious, protein-packed meals that will help you stay satiated and healthy.

kale quinoa salad on a platter

How to cook quinoa?

The best and easiest way to cook quinoa is to boil it in plenty of lightly salted water, just like pasta.

Rinse the quinoa under running water to remove its bitter coating.

rinsed quinoa in a fine-mesh sift

Bring a medium-sized pot with plenty of water to a boil.

Add a teaspoon of salt and the rinsed quinoa—we add 4 to 5 cups of water for 1 cup of quinoa.

quinoa in a pot with plenty of water

Boil it for 10 to 12 minutes or until doubled in size and cooked but with a slight bite.

When ready, drain the quinoa in a fine-mesh sift, shake off the water, and then let it sit over the pot for a few minutes to steam and fully drain.

draining the quinoa in a fine-mesh sift over a pot

This is the easiest method and consistently produces fluffy quinoa, never mushy (unless you overcook it), and with clearly separated grains.

cooked quinoa in a blue bowl with avocado on the side

Note: We know that many recipes call for cooking with the absorption method, where 1 cup of quinoa is simmered with 1 to 2 cups of water until all the water is absorbed.

The problem with this method is that it’s not reliable. Every brand of quinoa cooks slightly differently.

We often ended up with soaked and mushy quinoa, which was disappointing and unusable.

How to use quinoa

Quinoa is best in salads and grain bowls, and you can mix it in vegetarian burger patties to add texture and protein.

Try it in black bean salad or mango salad, or substitute it for bulgur in tabouli.

You can add it to our lentil salad or Buddha bowl or make a delicious quinoa salad and stuff a microwaved sweet potato with it.

Microwave sweet potato with black bean topping

Storage

Make ahead: Quinoa is excellent for meal prep as it keeps for days.

Refrigerator: Store it in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freezer: Let it cool completely, transfer it to a freezer-friendly bag, and freeze for up to 3 months.

Thaw: Defrost it in the fridge over several hours or in the microwave for a minute or two.

Similar recipes

If you are looking to add more healthy legumes and grains to your diet these how to posts might be interesting for you.

How to cook chickpeas, how to cook lentils, how to cook couscous, how to cook black beans, how to cook black lentils, how to cook red lentils.

cooked quinoa in a blue bowl with a silver spoon

How to Cook Quinoa

5 from 1 vote
Quinoa is quick and easy to cook in a pot with plenty of boiling water.
You can cook quinoa for meal prep and keep it in the fridge, ready to use in salads, veggie burgers, and grain bowls.
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Basic
Cuisine: International

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 4 cups boiling water
  • 1 teaspoon salt optional

Instructions 

  • Rinse 1 cup quinoa in a fine-mesh sift.
    Cook it in a pot with 4 cups boiling water and 1 teaspoon salt for 10 to 12 minutes or until tender but with a slight bite.
    quinoa in a pot with plenty of water
  • Drain it in a fine-mesh sift, shake off the water, and then let it sit over the pot for a few minutes to fully drain.
    draining the quinoa in a fine-mesh sift over a pot
  • You can use it for salads and grain bowls such as quinoa saladkale quinoa saladblack bean salad, quinoa chickpea salad, and quinoa lentil salad.
    cooked quinoa in a bowl

Notes

Nutrition information is an estimate for 1 serving of boiled quinoa out of 4 servings without salt.
STORAGE
Make ahead: Quinoa is excellent for meal prep as it keeps for days.
Refrigerator: Store it in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Let it cool completely, drain it well, and transfer it to a freezer-friendly bag, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost it in the fridge over several hours or in the microwave for a minute or two.

Nutrition

Calories: 184kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 0.4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 14mg, Potassium: 282mg, Dietary Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 0g, Vitamin A: 7IU, Vitamin B6: 0.2mg, Vitamin C: 0mg, Vitamin E: 1mg, Vitamin K: 0µg, Calcium: 31mg, Folate: 92µg, Iron: 2mg, Manganese: 1mg, Magnesium: 101mg, Zinc: 2mg
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Hi! We are Nico & Louise

Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with vegetarian and vegan recipes.

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