Simple Quinoa Recipe

by Steve Mccabe
(Portland, Oregon, USA)

I just recently started eating this grain. Here is how I make it:
First, quinoa has to be washed carefully prior to cooking. Follow the instructions provided at this same web site under the link "Cooking Quinoa". The only thing I would add to those instructions is that it is better to rub the grains in your hands in the bowl during washing to really break up the saponin. Do this 3 times then rinse well in a fine sieve and drain well.

To cook, for 1 cup of dried quinoa measure out 1.5 cups of water and bring to a boil. Add 1/8 teaspoon or less of salt to the water. Once water is boiling add the grain and stir well while waiting for it to come back up to a good simmer then turn heat to low, cover pot, and simmer covered for 20 minutes. Remove from heat. To serve in its simplest version, I just add a pinch of salt and some really good virgin cold-pressed olive oil, or let everyone add these to their own taste. That is it.

Add the quionoa to other recipes for variety. I prepare it this way as a substitute for rice and couscous. One big advantage other than its great nutrition qualities is that it cooks in half the time or less as whole brown rice.


Thanks Steve for this easy quinoa recipe. For more easy vegetarian quinoa recipes like salad, bread, pasta, pudding, porridge, spicy Spanish quinoa pilaf, and a sushi recipe with avocado, click here.