Learn how to cook the perfect cup of light and fluffy quinoa every time, in the instant pot, rice cooker or on the stove, with these easy tips and tricks!
Use these easy quinoa recipes to make Elote Bowls, Indian Spiced Cauliflower Bowls or Greek Chicken Bowls!
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What is quinoa?
Quinoa is a nutritious ancient grain that has risen in popularity over the last decade. It is a good source of protein, B vitamins and fiber, and lower in calories and carbohydrates than white rice.
Quinoa comes from a flowering plant that is botanically related to spinach. Cooked quinoa is made up of 72% water, 21% carbohydrates, 4% protein and 2% fat. It's also one of the few plant foods that contain sufficient amounts of all 9 essential amino acids.
Quinoa is naturally gluten free and makes a great, healthy base for bowls. It's nutty in flavor and fluffy in texture!
Learn more about quinoa in this post, What is Quinoa?
Is quinoa better for you than rice?
Quinoa is lower in calories and carbohydrates than white rice. White rice contains 40 more calories and 15 times the carbohydrates per cup, than the same amount of quinoa.
Quinoa provides twice the protein and 5 grams more fiber than the same amount of white rice.
If you're looking to lower your calories and carbs, and increase your protein, quinoa is a better choice than white rice. It will also fill you up faster, allowing for smaller portion sizes.
Quinoa nutrition
One cup of cooked quinoa contains:
- 222 calories
- 39 grams carbs
- 8 grams protein
- 4 grams fat
- 5 grams fiber
- 1 gram sugar
Types of quinoa
Quinoa can be found in red, white, black and tri color varieties. While the taste and texture of each type of quinoa is very similar, there are some slight differences.
- White Quinoa is the mildest in flavor and has the least crunchy texture.
- Red Quinoa is more flavorful and crunchy than white quinoa.
- Black Quinoa is the most flavorful and crunchy of the three quinoa types.
White quinoa and tri-color quinoa are the most commonly found types of quinoa and what you will see in most of the bowls on Bowls Are The New Plates.
Where to buy it
I like to purchase quinoa in the bulk bins at the grocery store. It is the most affordable way to purchase large quantities of quinoa. (And we go through A LOT of quinoa around here!) It can also be found in bags on the rice aisle at the grocery store.
How to cook it in an Instant Pot
- Add 1 ½ cups water, 1 cup quinoa and ¼ teaspoon salt to an Instant Pot.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the steam valve to the "sealing" position.
- Use the manual button to set the Instant Pot to high for 1 minute.
- After the timer beeps 3 times, wait 10 minutes before releasing any remaining pressure from the Instant Pot.
- Remove the lid from the Instant Pot and fluff the quinoa with a fork.
How to cook it on the stove
- Combine 2 cups water, 1 cup quinoa and ¼ teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan.
- Bring to a boil on the stove over high heat.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and let the quinoa sit covered for 10 minutes.
- Uncover the quinoa and fluff with a fork.
How to cook it in a rice cooker
- Combine 2 cups water, 1 cup quinoa and ¼ teaspoon salt in a rice cooker.
- Cook for 35 minutes.
- Quick Tip! If your rice cooker has pre-set buttons, use the whole grain button to cook quinoa.
Which method makes the best quinoa?
In a blind taste test, (which I conducted at home with my family!) the Instant Pot Quinoa was the favorite for both taste and texture. It's also the quickest to make, taking only about 20 minutes total, start to finish.
The rice cooker quinoa will take about 35 minutes to make and the stove top quinoa will take approximately 30 minutes to make.
Tips and tricks
Simply follow these tips and tricks for making perfect quinoa every time!
- Always rinse the quinoa before cooking. This removes the outer coating of the quinoa, which can leave a bitter or soapy taste. To do this, place the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and place under cold running water for 10-15 seconds.
- Use broth instead of water. This will give the quinoa great flavor. If you're making the quinoa to use in a vegan or plant based bowl, I recommend using this vegan bouillon to prepare the quinoa.
- Know your ratios. One cup of dry quinoa, equals approximately 3 cups of cooked quinoa.
Ways to use quinoa
Quinoa is delicious as the base of a bowl or a nutty addition to salads. Try it in this Greek Salad or these other delicious recipes!
- Elote Bowls
- Mexican Roasted Delicata Squash Bowls
- Quinoa Breakfast Bowls
- Indian Cauliflower Bowls
- Vegetarian Enchilada Bowls with Green Chili Enchilada Sauce
- Za'atar Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Bowls
- Quinoa Caprese Salad
- Greek Quinoa Salad
- Cauliflower Shawarma Bowls
- Lemon Herb Greek Quinoa Bowl
Recipe
Quinoa - 3 Ways
Ingredients
Instant Pot Quinoa
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 cup quinoa
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Stovetop Quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup quinoa
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Rice Cooker Quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup quinoa
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
Instant Pot Quinoa
- Combine the water, quinoa and salt in an Instant Pot.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the steam valve to the “sealing” position.
- Use the manual button to set the Instant Pot to high for 1 minute.
- After the timer beeps 3 times, wait 10 minutes before releasing any remaining pressure from the Instant Pot.
- Remove the lid from the Instant Pot and fluff the quinoa with a fork.
Stovetop Quinoa
- Combine the water, quinoa and salt in a medium saucepan.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and let the quinoa sit covered for 10 minutes.
- Uncover the quinoa and fluff with a fork.
Rice Cooker Quinoa
- Combine the water, quinoa and salt in a rice cooker.
- Cook for 35 minutes, or use the "whole grain" setting on your rice cooker.
Notes
- One cup dry quinoa = approximately 3 cups cooked quinoa.
- Use broth instead of water for more flavorful quinoa.
- Always rinse the quinoa before cooking.
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