Here is everything you need to know to cook perfect quinoa effortlessly every time. Once you nail the perfect quinoa liquid ratio, you'll be making fluffy and tender grains in your sleep.
If this is your first time cooking quinoa, then welcome to the wonderful world of my favorite grain. Quinoa has a lot going for it. From its naturally nutty taste to its fluffy and chewy texture, not to mention its impressive protein content, quinoa is called a superfood for a reason. Plus, quinoa is gluten-free and cooks up in less than 15 minutes.
The only secret to making perfect quinoa is nailing the quinoa to water ratio. As long as you use 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water, you can make as many servings of this healthy grain as you like.
The Perfect Quinoa Liquid Ratio that Works Every Time
Just remember this golden rule and you'll be less than 15 minutes away from fluffy quinoa at any moment:
One Part Quinoa to Two Parts Water
For example, to feed four, 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of water will make four 1/2-cup servings. From there, you can use this handy quinoa liquid ratio to scale up and down to meet your needs.
Why is this ratio so important? It all comes down to texture. Add too little water and your grains may burn on the bottom of the pot before they cook through. Add too much water and you'll end up with soggy, overcooked, and mushy grains.
What Liquids can I Use to Cook Quinoa?
You'll notice that I mention the quinoa to liquid ratio, not the quinoa to water ratio. That's because you can use a number of different liquids to cook quinoa with more flavor than water alone.
Some of my favorite liquids to cook quinoa with added flavor include:
- Vegetable or chicken broth or stock. You can replace all of the water with broth or stock to cook perfect quinoa.
- Coconut milk. This adds a delicious creamy texture to your quinoa that's perfect for breakfast porridge.
- Other non-dairy milk. Experiment with other dairy-free milk, including almond, cashew, and oat milk, for a sweeter take. If your milk contains thickeners, use half water, half milk to prevent burning.
- Wine. You can also add a splash of wine to your cooking liquid to give your quinoa an elegant aroma and flavor. Note that red wine will dye your grains a deep purple color.
Should I Season the Cooking Liquid?
If your cooking liquid is not already seasoned (such as salted broth), it's a good idea to add a pinch of salt along with the quinoa. This helps infuse the grains with flavor as they cook.
Your quinoa seasoning can be as simple as salt or as flavorful as chili powder, cayenne, cinnamon, or any of your favorite dried spices.
Equipment for Cooking Quinoa
Aside from the quinoa liquid ratio, you'll need a couple of very basic pieces of cooking equipment to make perfect quinoa:
- A pot with a lid. Make sure your pot is large enough to fit your quinoa and water with space for growth. Quinoa will more than double in size as it cooks, so a bigger pot is always better. In addition, make sure your lid is tight-fitting, so the steam gets trapped inside the pot to cook the grains evenly.
- Fork. This is my favorite tool for fluffing the grains afger they're cooked (see how in the video below).
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Try The Perfect Quinoa to Liquid Ratio
Now it's your turn! Watch this how-to video to see the easy way I cook quinoa at home using the quinoa liquid ratio. Then make one of my most popular quinoa recipes and share a photo with me in the comments below.
xx Alyssa
Quinoa recipes to get you started:
- 5-Ingredient Quinoa Mac and Cheese
- Tropical Quinoa Lettuce Wraps
- Dark Chocolate Quinoa Cookies
- Sweet Potato Salmon Cakes
- Quinoa Buddha Bowl
FAQs
The golden ratio is one cup of quinoa to one and three-quarter cups of water. Using these proportions can save you from a pot of mushy, overcooked, gummy quinoa.
How much liquid for quinoa? ›
The basic ratio is 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups liquid. You can use water (season it with a bit of kosher salt), or you can use any kind of broth (we like to use low-sodium broths and add any extra salt to the finished dish as needed). You can also add a bit of dry white wine to the liquid for another layer of flavor.
Can you add too much water to quinoa? ›
Some recipes call for as high as a 2:1 water to grain ratio, while others go as low as 1 1/2:1. In my experience, the sweet spot for light, fluffy quinoa is right in the middle. I use 1 3/4 cups water for every cup of quinoa. Any more water, and the quinoa gets mushy.
Why is my quinoa soggy and not fluffy? ›
One Part Quinoa to Two Parts Water
It all comes down to texture. Add too little water and your grains may burn on the bottom of the pot before they cook through. Add too much water and you'll end up with soggy, overcooked, and mushy grains.
Why not to soak quinoa? ›
Do you need to soak quinoa before cooking it? In short, no, you don't need to soak quinoa. However, doing so is said to remove phytic acid, which may make it easier for people to digest quinoa. If you just want to remove the bitter flavor from quinoa, rinse it under cold water for about a minute.
Is quinoa healthier than rice? ›
Quinoa is rich in both fiber and protein, contains a much higher amount of other nutrients, and has a similar fluffy texture to the rice. A cup of quinoa contains twice more protein and about 5 g more fiber than white rice. Quinoa contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than white rice.
Can you overcook quinoa? ›
If overcooked, quinoa can become mushy and unappealing, especially in salads where you want it to have some texture and nuttiness. The tips below will assist you in creating fluffy quinoa with a bit of chewiness, perfect for salads.
Do I cook quinoa covered or uncovered? ›
Because it is a seed, quinoa absorbs water differently than other grains. To make it fluffy, cook it uncovered at a low simmer. Once it's tender and no water remains in the bottom of the pot, cover it.
Should you stir quinoa while cooking? ›
Stay vigilant: Stir the grains constantly to avoid burning, watching for that perfect golden moment, around 6 to 8 minutes. Water is this grain's go-to companion, but other liquids–think low-sodium chicken, mushroom or vegetable broth–add flavor. Just keep the ratio 2 cups liquid to 1 cup quinoa.
Do you boil water before adding quinoa? ›
For 1 cup of quinoa, you'll need 2 cups of boiling water. If you want to build even more flavor. While you're washing the quinoa, start to boil the water. Once the water reaches a rapid boil, add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt (per cup of quinoa), then add the washed quinoa.
Quinoa is really excellent when cooked in vegetable or chicken broth. Also, add about 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt to each cup dried quinoa when cooking. Try adding other spices and aromatics during cooking as well, like a clove of smashed garlic, a sprig of fresh rosemary, or a dash of black pepper.
What is the stringy stuff in quinoa? ›
That weird little string coming out of quinoa is normal.
When quinoa is cooked, the “germ” comes out of each seed. It looks like a string and it is nothing to be afraid of.
How much does 1 cup of quinoa make? ›
For 1 cup of uncooked quinoa, you'll want to use 2 cups of water—this will yield 3 cups of cooked quinoa. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower the temperature to medium-low and pop the lid on securely.
What is the omega 3 to 6 ratio of quinoa? ›
On average, quinoa seeds are comprised of 5 to 7% fats depending on the variety. The fats in quinoa seeds are mostly unsaturated (90%) and they have an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 6/1, giving quinoa a better ratio than most plant-derived oils [10].
Does quinoa fill you up more than rice? ›
From a nutritional point of view, quinoa beats brown rice in most categories. It offers more dietary fiber and protein than brown rice, so it should make for a more filling addition to your diet.
What is golden quinoa? ›
Golden Quinoa is a whole grain packed full of nutrients that is perfect for salads and grain bowls. Our Flourist Golden Quinoa is extremely high in protein and comes from Jamie Draves in Iron Springs Alberta. Learn more about our farmers here. Cooking Method. Rinse Golden Quinoa well under cold water.
What is the golden ratio for cooking rice? ›
The golden rule for the rice-to-water ratio [volume] is 1:1.1 (or 1.2).
