How to Cook Red Quinoa Perfectly

It has only been in the last ten years that quinoa has been widely available in the western world. In fact, some grocery stores still do not carry this tiny seed. Because most of us did not grow up eating quinoa, many people are confused about how to cook quinoa. This is especially true for red quinoa, because it is not as widely available as white quinoa. Here are some tips to cooking quinoa!

Do You Cover Quinoa When Cooking?

Yes! When you are simmering, you want to keep it covered. This is because like rice, quinoa cooks through the absorption method. It is important to note that you only want to cover the quinoa after you have turned the heat down from boiling.

Can You Cook Red Quinoa and White Together?

Absolutely! I think mixing red and white makes for a very attractive dish! Red and white quinoa are cooked the same way. Most of the time, I find that red quinoa takes a little longer to cook and requires a bit more rinsing. For this reason, I will often put the red quinoa in a few minutes before the white. Since the seeds get mushy when it over cooks, this helps keep the white seeds from getting too soft.

How to Cook Red Quinoa for Salad

I really like a red quinoa salad! When I make quinoa salad, I make the quinoa a bit differently than I would if I were making a stir fry or casserole. First, I boil the quinoa for around ten minutes. Then I rinse it in cool water and place it in a fine metal colander. I bring a small amount of water to boil and place the colander over it. I cover the pot with a dish rag and lid and steam the quinoa for another 10 minutes. This yields quinoa that is the perfect consistency for salad - nice and firm with the perfect amount of crunch.

Quinoa is a wonderful food that you really should give a try! Not only does it taste great, but nutritional experts everywhere have called it a "super-food". It is an excellent source of vegetarian protein because it provides your body with all eight of the amino acids that we need. The carbohydrate content of these tiny seeds are low-glycemic, making it perfect for people that are watching their weight as well as diabetics. Give cooking quinoa a try!

To learn more quinoa nutritional information or to see quinoa recipes please visit us at cookingquinoa.net.