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| How to Prepare Quinoa |
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| Quinoa is known as the little rice of Peru. |
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| The Incas treated the crop as sacred and referred to quinoa as 'chisaya mama' or 'mother of all grains.' [1] |
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| By tradition, the Inca emperor would sow the first seeds of the season using 'golden implements.' |
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| Quinoa is rich in protein and much lighter than other grains. |
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| It is much easier to prepare than rice and is rapidly gaining in popularity, especially among vegetarians who value its high protein levels. |
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| Ingredients |
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| 1 cup quinoa |
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| 2 cups water (or broth) |
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| Olive oil to taste (Optional) |
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| 1/2 teaspoon salt (Optional) |
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| Method 1 Cooking On A Stove Top |
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| Rinse the grains of quinoa in water. |
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| You can skip this step if you have purchased pre-rinsed quinoa in a box. |
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| To rinse, place the measured grain in a strainer under running water for a few minutes. |
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| This is necessary to remove the excess saponins on the outside of the grains which impart a bitter flavor to quinoa if not removed. |
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| Toast quinoa in a saucepan (optional). |
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| Drizzle a bit of olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. |
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| Add the quinoa and cook for about 1 minute. |
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| This brings out quinoa's nutty flavor. |
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| Cook the quinoa. |
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| Place two parts water or stock to one part of quinoa in a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. |
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| Cover and reduce heat to low. |
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| Simmer the quinoa for about 15 minutes or until the grain becomes translucent and the white germ forms a visible spiral on the exterior of the quinoa grain. |
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| Try to ensure there is an al dente bite to the germ, in the same way as pasta. |
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| Quinoa will continue cooking for a bit even after you take it off the heat. |
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| Take the quinoa off the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. |
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| This will give it time to absorb any moisture that might still be in the pan. |
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| Uncover and fluff with a fork. |
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| The quinoa should look light and fluffy, and you should be able to see the germ separating from the seed. |
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| Serve. |
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| Freshly cooked quinoa should be served immediately to retain nutritional value and a good flavor. |
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| Serve with: |
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| Stir-fry, using the quinoa as a substitute for rice. |
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| Curry. |
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| Braised meat. |
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| In a salad. |
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| Virtually any other combination you can think of! |
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| Method 2 Cooking In a Rice Cooker |
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| Rinse 1 cup of quinoa in a fine mesh sieve under cold water. |
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| If you bought packaged quinoa, this step isn't always necessary, but it's better to be safe than sorry. |
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| Pour quinoa into rice cooker. |
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| One option is to toast the quinoa before placing in the rice cooker. |
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| See Step # 2 in Method One above for directions. |
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| Add 2 cups of liquid and 1/2 teaspoon of salt into the rice cooker. |
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| Water, chicken stock or broth, or vegetable stock all work. |
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| Cook for approximately 15 minutes. |
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| Some rice cooker will have different settings instead of a simple 'cook' option. |
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| Try the 'white rice' option if your rice cooker gives you several options. |
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| Let stand for about 5 minutes. |
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| Fluff with a fork and serve. |
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| Method 3 Cooking In the Oven |
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| Preheat oven to 350 ° F (177 ° C). |
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| Arrange rack in the middle of the oven. |
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| Rinse quinoa thoroughly in a fine mesh seive under cold water. |
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| In a medium saucepan, heat up 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over medium-low heat. |
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| Add onions, peppers, mushrooms, or any other type of desired vegetable or herb into the saucepan (optional). |
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| Cook onions until they are translucent, but not burned. |
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| Sweat the peppers or vegetables along with the onions. |
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| Add the quinoa and salt to the saucepan, stirring until completely incorporated. |
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| This should take no longer than 30 seconds. |
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| Add one cup of broth and one cup of water to the saucepan and bring to a boil over medium high heat. |
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| Once a boil is reached, transfer quinoa to a 8-by-8-inch baking dish. [2] |
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| Spread out quinoa evenly and cover baking dish completely with aluminum foil. |
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| Cook the quinoa in the oven for roughly 20 minutes, or until most of the liquid is gone. |
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| Remove the aluminum foil from the baking dish, add cheese or other seasonings, and bake for an additional 5 minutes. |
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| After 5 minutes, the quinoa should be fully cooked. |
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| Serve and enjoy! |