How to Make Perfectly Fluffy Quinoa Every Time (Video)

Three Tips You Need to Know

Quinoa is a powerhouse ingredient with 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per cup and is considered a complete protein even though it doesn't have as much of all the 9 essential amino acids as animal protein. In my book, however, it's not so much about nutrition as it is about quick cooking…only 15 minutes start to finish. Plus, you can batch cook it so you will be ready for anything: salad jars or bento boxes for lunch, a Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad, or magically having a quick side for grilled chicken or fish.

Tip #1 It's All In The Ratios

Almost all quinoa packages and recipes say use 2 cups of water to 1 cup of quinoa. But using these ratios makes quinoa that is soggy and soft. I wanted it to have more the texture of couscous and decided to crack the code. After trying different methods, I finally figured out that you simply cut down the water to 1 1/2 times the amount of quinoa you use. Whether you use 1 cup or 10 cups of quinoa, you simply multiply that times 1.5 and that's how much water to use.

Tip #2 Use the Right Pan Size to Cook Properly

For 1 cup of quinoa and 1 1/2 cups of water, use a 2 qt pan. Any bigger and the water will evaporate too fast and leave you with chewy quinoa at best but more likely you will have some perfect quinoa and some hard little quinoa balls. It should take about 12 minutes for the water to be absorbed. After 12 minutes, check the water level by tilting the pan. If you don't see any water around the edges you're ready for the next, very important tip.

Tip #3 Let Off the Steam

When the water has fully been absorbed, remove the pan from heat, lift the lid and cover with kitchen towel then return lid and let sit for 5 minutes for the towel to absorb the steam rather than it dripping back into the pan. (Don't skip this step; it is really the key to the "fluffiness".) After 5 minutes, rake through the quinoa with a fork to separate the grains.

Bonus Tip: Rinse the Quinoa if Necessary

If your package of quinoa says to rinse: Rinse the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear. The reason for this is quinoa has saponin on the outer shell which is a natural pesticide but tastes soapy and can make some people have digestive discomfort. Look at your package carefully because it might already be rinsed or better yet, it might be sprouted quinoa which means not only has it been rinsed, but it's been soaked long enough to start sprouting and make it more digestible.

How to Cook Perfectly Fluffy Quinoa Every Time