How do you cook quinoa?!

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

If you're not 100% sure that it is rinsed quinoa (which I find bulk quinoa usually isn't), make sure that you rinse the uncooked quinoa several times in water to help remove the saponin that is on the outside. If you don't, you will find your quinoa and kitchen have an awful smell and taste! Usually to be safe, I rinse all quinoa unless I get a box that states it is rinsed.

You can cook like rice ~2:1 water to quinoa ratio in a pot, or cook it in your rice steamer using the same directions as rice.

You can add flavour to the water, like herbs or spices, or flavour using broth or stock in place of water. You can also add things like rasins, nuts, etc to make a pilaf style quinoa. Another neat option is to add a little maple syrup and cinnamon to the water during cooking, which infuses it with those and makes a really nice alternative to oatmeal at breakfast.

You can make a salad out of it after, adding veggies, etc. or make it into cookies. I also use rinsed, dried uncooked quinoa in my home made granola bars - I just roast it a little before with nuts, etc. then bake together with dried fruit, honey, etc. to make bars. Very yummy.

I add chicken stock instead of water to the quinoa and then like to add things like fresh or frozen peas, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), sliced red or green peppers (paprika) or slivered almonds. To finish it off I like a bit of curry powder or fresh rosemary. I know none of these suggestions could be associated with any region's cuisine but I've just found what I like by experimentation.

Use it like you would rice or couscous.