How to cook quinoa: methods, cooking times, recipes and mistakes not to make

How to cook quinoa? Cooking times, tips and mistakes to avoid for a perfect result

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

Quinoa is a pseudocereal ben noto ai celiac as a gluten-free food. Already known to pre-Columbian populations, it was called "the mother of all seeds" and it is not difficult to understand why, considering that it can be consumed by everyone, there are over 200 varieties and the plant does not require special care to grow. In our country it has become a lot popular for several years, but someone still looks at her with distrust. How to cook quinoa? How to avoid mistakes? Are there several possible techniques for doing this? Below we will answer all these questions and also see how to enjoy it in the kitchen with the best combinations.

Read also: Quinoa, all scientifically proven properties

Index

How to cook quinoa

The cooking time of the quinoa is approx 15 minutes, but forget everything you've learned about cooking cereals so far: quinoa is a world of its own. If you've only boiled it in the past and it didn't seem like much, it's time to give it a second chance and cook it in the right world: here's how.

1. First you have to wash it for a long time under running water. This will allow the elimination of saponins, harmless but slightly bitter substances.
2. Do it now toast the pseudocereal in a pan with a drizzle of oil - just like you do with rice grains before preparing a risotto.
3. At this point you just have to add the liquid: choose water or broth and get twice as much as quinoa. The proportion is always: 1 part of quinoa (for example 100 g) for 2 parts of liquid (therefore, about 200 g).
4. The quinoa is cooked when the liquid has absorbed. Don't forget to add salt and pepper to taste before serving.

This process will be fine for the white quinoa, but also for black and red quinoa: the only differences we can find, in fact, are in the flavor (in the last two it is more marked). For more tips, recipes and cooking guides, we advise you to consult Primo Chef.

Now that we have seen the classic method, we also want to leave you some recipes for cooking quinoa in a manner different than usual. Have you ever tried to prepare it in the oven, steam or microwave?

Microwave the quinoa

In recent years, more and more people, out of necessity or out of curiosity, try to cook with the microwave. The good news is, if you are one of them, you can get great results with quinoa! We advise you to try it with one portion at a time to avoid mess inside the appliance.

For this technique you need a container with a lid that is suitable for microwaves. Make it very roomy to prevent quinoa come out with the cooking water.

1. Put the washed quinoa in a bowl with double its weight of water.
2. Close with the lid and cook for 3 minutes at maximum power.
3. Extract, wait a minute, mix and repeat.
4. You will know it is cooked when you see it attacks. Alternatively, repeat cooking for another minute, adding a little water.

Remember to use a glove to protect your hands as well do not bring your face too close to the container when you open it because you could get hurt by the escaping steam.

Bake the quinoa in the oven

Let's start by telling you: it is possible but it is not recommended if you are in a hurry, considering that it will require a lot of time and extra steps. However, it becomes a great idea to make a sort of mess by adding ingredients to taste.

1. You will first have to rinse the quinoa and boil it in water for a few minutes.
2. Drain it, place it in a baking dish and cook with a drop of water covered with aluminum foil for about 20 minutes in a hot oven at about 170 ° C.
3. Remove the aluminum foil, season to taste and brown for another 10 final minutes.

Steam the quinoa

Those who have a steamer, on the other hand, can also try this type of cooking.

1. Place the washed quinoa in the basket of the pot suitable for steam cooking (or the bamboo steamer). Remember to line the bottom with parchment paperotherwise the small grains of this pseudocereal will fall off.
2. Fill the bottom part of the pot with water and as soon as it starts to boil, lower the heat and add the perforated basket with the quinoa.
3. Cook for about 20 minutes and finally seasoned to taste.

Tips and mistakes to avoid

For a perfect result we also want to leave you a few more advice:

- Choose white quinoa if it is your first approach to this food because it is the one with the most flavor neutral. Alternatively, you can also try the red and black ones: both have a more pronounced nutty hint to the taste.

- If you want to do it overcooked, almost creamy, increase the dose of water. Change the proportion and use 1 part quinoa and 3 parts water. When this is fully absorbed, it is ready.

- Finally, if you have a lot of time you can make the quinoa do a soak similar to that of legumes. Instead of washing it under running water, leave it in water for 12/24 hours: in this way the beans will be beautifully swollen and free of all impurities. Before cooking it, give it one last wash and, in the pan, add as much water as enough to cover it completely. Cook over low heat until completely absorbed: 5/10 minutes are enough.

Quinoa recipes and pairings

Now that we have seen how to cook it, we can only leave you some combinations.

Cold dishes. The easiest recipes to make are salads, excellent in every season! We can suggest a tricolor quinoa with chickpeas, broccoli and cherry tomatoes - very easy to make and also gluten-free - or the protein quinoa salad with chicken, eggs and vegetables or even quinoa with baked vegetable ratatouille.

Hot dishes. In cold seasons or when we want a dish that warms the stomach, we can effortlessly make a quinoa soup, customizable in many different ways. While you are cooking the quinoa as indicated, make a broth (with vegetables or meat, to taste) and then add the two elements.

Finally, don't forget that quinoa is great as stuffing for baked vegetables (aubergines, courgettes, tomatoes, artichokes ...) even for those who choose a gluten-free diet.

Desserts. It may not be your first choice, but did you know that quinoa can also be used for excellent desserts? The basic idea takes up the porridge: the quinoa will be cooked in water and milk, sweetened with honey and flavored as desired with seasonal fruit and dried fruit. Try it and you will be delighted!