How to Cook Quinoa

Easy to cook, nutrient dense and extremely versatile. Quinoa is naturally gluten-free and is one of the world's top superfoods. Whether you are preparing it as a simple side dish or tossing it in a salad, with this basic recipe you can learn how to cook quinoa in 3 simple steps.

What is quinoa? It is actually the seed from plants in the amaranth family. Some of us even grow these plants in our back yards as ornamental plants. It is gluten-free and packed full of vitamins and minerals. This protein rich food is easy to prepare and great for our bodies. If you are wanting to get into cooking healthier, add this "pseudo-cereal" to your diet.

Quinoa is great served hot as a side dish or chilled then tossed with various ingredients to make a salad. There are so many different flavor combinations that can be used. Pair it with your favorite meats or veggies like this Roasted Cauliflower recipe. I love serving quinoa with Roasted Chicken. Once you cook quinoa you will fall in love with how easy it is to make and how well it pairs with other foods.

Quinoa is great either way if you decided to rinse or toast it before cooking. Quinoa can have a bitter flavor when cooked if it is not rinsed or toasted first. To rinse quinoa just simply run water over the quinoa for a few seconds before proceeding with the recipe. Toasting quinoa is simple too. Just toast the quinoa in a skillet over medium heat until it is golden brown and smells nutty. Toasting quinoa also adds a nutty flavor that you cannot get from rinsing the quinoa.

When it comes to flavor, I love and highly recommend cooking quinoa in chicken stock versus water. Quinoa takes on so much flavor from the stock and makes this simple dish that much better.

1. Rinse the quinoa in cold water for 30 seconds. Strain and add to a medium saucepan.

2. Pour in the chicken stock and season with salt. Bring to a boil, cover and turn the heat to low. Continue cooking for 15 minutes.

3. After 15 minutes turn off the heat, let set for 10 minutes then remove the cover and fluff. Enjoy!

When making quinoa for meal prepping double the recipe to make a big batch. Once the quinoa is done cooking, spread it out on a sheet tray and allow to cool before portioning it out. Cooked quinoa is good for up to 7 days in the refrigerator.