How To Boil Quinoa Perfectly Every Time

In recent years, quinoa has been considered a super-food. You can think of it as a cereal, and it is, but it’s a cereal with a large number of nutrients and characteristics that most carb sources do not have. Many scientists compare its quality to that of milk. In fact, quinoa is the only vegetable product that provides all amino acids and vitamins. Boiling is the traditional and most basic way to prepare quinoa, and in most cases, you will need this step to follow any recipe.

But, how to cook it perfectly? It is not difficult once you see how to boil quinoa step by step. The Aymara people from Peru and Bolivia have cooked quinoa for centuries. Luckily for us, our modern kitchens make the process very simple, more than theirs did back then.

Remember that now you can find quinoa in many presentations, it is not necessarily the full grain seed, so make certain what is the proper presentation for you. For example, quinoa flour is useful to prepare fresh pasta or as an additive for soups. Another option is to put the toasted and cooked grain as an ingredient in salads. Many others ferment it to obtain a kind of beer. Here, we offer you a step-by-step instruction guide on how to boil full grain quinoa as part of a meal.

How to boil quinoa, step by step

Something you must always take into account is that quinoa has a toxic substance called saponin, which is very sour and has a very peculiar flavor. In order to avoid an undesired taste, you have to wash the seeds before cooking. Put quinoa in a bowl with abundant running water, shake firmly and you will see a sort of foam coming out. This is the saponin. Then, pour the water out. Repeat the process until the foam does not form at all. This process should not exceed a minute or two, because the grain may start to absorb water.

After doing so, complete these steps in order:

Step 1: Pour the oil

Heat a pot to 130 degrees, and pour in approx. three tablespoons of vegetable oil. You can use canola oil, sunflower seed oil or olive oil. If you use more than this proportion of oil, you will get a very fat dish. If you use less than that, it may be a little sticky at the end, instead of a soft and dry dish.

Step 2: Add the quinoa seeds and make them brown a little

You should stir gently and constantly to avoid it sticking to each other or to the surface of the pan. Do it in a way they won’t fry with the oil. For this recipe, we suggest adding a cup of quinoa. If you want to add vegetables, such as garlic powder, onions, pepper or celery slices, this is the right time to do so. Brown quinoa for as long as you desire, but at least one minute. Do not brown them more than five minutes, or the quinoa seeds may fry too much and will not boil correctly.

Step 3: Pour water

The amount of water is crucial to the result. You have to double the quantity of water according to the quantity of quinoa. For instance, if we prepare a cup of quinoa, we should add two cups of water. You can also trade water for chicken broth. Then, mix all together very well and cover the pot.

Step 4: Let it boil

Once covered, let it boil for almost 20 minutes. You will notice the grain will be a little more transparent and change color. Passed that period, there should still remain a little amount of water boiling, and here is when you put salt into the preparation. Just 1 teaspoon should be fine. Then cover again and let it cook for five minutes more.

Step 5: Final step

Uncover, and remove one more time to see it has the texture you desire. You have to make yourself sure that the grain is well cooked and has not stuck to the pan. Take it away from the fire. If you think it is a little wet still, leave it uncovered for two minutes and let it evaporate a bit.

Now you are ready to serve. This recipe is for approx. four serving portions.

How long to boil quinoa

If you have never before prepared this type of dish, it is normal to ask how long to boil quinoa. As you see, it is very similar to rice in the cooking process, but there are other aspects to take into consideration.

Quinoa absorbs a bigger amount of water than rice, so you should always use double the water for each measure of quinoa. Some producers suggest adding water in a 3/1 proportion, that is three cups of water for each cup of quinoa. It always depends on the type of quinoa, as you will see after in this article.

Then, it should boil for at least 15 minutes, but this is often not enough. 20 minutes tends to be the right time, if the fire is constant at medium intensity. Nevertheless, you should control the whole process. You will see the quinoa is perfect when the seeds are transparent, have doubled their size and have become tender but not sticky.

In the following chart, there is further information about the types of quinoa seeds that are now available in the market and how long they should be boiled.

Type	Boiling time	Characteristics
Real Quinoa	15-20 minutes	The most common. High protein level. Soft flavor, richer in nutrients. Also called White Quinoa, is perfect for the recipe in the article.
Red Quinoa	20 minutes	Very similar to Real Quinoa, but with more carbs and less fat. Perfect for those diets of high-energy requirements for athletes.
Black Quinoa	25 minutes	Boiling time is slightly longer, because this grain is tougher. It is a hybrid between quinoa seed and spinach seed. Perfect for salads, gives a crispy sensation. Has lithium, which is good for reducing anxiety and depression.