Quinoa (pronounced Keen–Wah) is an ancient food that is not yet well known in North America. Quinoa grains range in colour from ivory to pinks, brown to reds or almost black depending on the variety. Quinoa is high in protein, calcium and iron, a relatively good source of vitamin E and several B vitamins. That makes it an excellent ingredient to use in vegetarian foods and dishes like meatless burger patties, casseroles, soups, stews and stir-fries. Quinoa is relatively easy to prepare and cooks in only 15-20 minutes. This is a basic guide to cooking quinoa.
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 ¾ to 2 cups water or broth
- Salt
Tools
- Heavy 2 quart saucepan with cover
Instructions
- Put the quinoa in a fine strainer and rinse it under running water.
- Add the liquid and salt to the saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Stir in the rinsed quinoa a little at a time so that it doesn’t boil over.
- Cover the pan and lower the heat to one notch above low.
- Simmer covered for 20 minutes; after 20 minutes, without removing the cover, turn off the heat and let it stand for abut 10 minutes.
- Uncover the pan and fluff the quinoa with a fork.
Tips and Warnings
- Before cooking, the seeds must be rinsed to remove their bitter resin-like coating, which is called saponin. Quinoa is rinsed before it is packaged and sold, but it is best to rinse again at home before use to remove any of the powdery residue that may remain on the seeds.
- Quinoa can be bought at Whole Foods or most other health food stores. Some supermarkets also stock it, but if you are unable to find it in your area, you can buy it online.
- Slightly adjust the amount of liquid and the amount of cooking time depending on your stove and the pan you use.
- It is important to leave the cover on while cooking and cooling for the perfect consistency.
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