Garlic Butter Quinoa {Only 5 Ingredients!} | Quinoa Recipes | Simply Quinoa (2024)

FAQs

What to add to quinoa to make it taste better? ›

Lemon Herb Quinoa: This is one of my go-to side dishes to serve with meat. It is made by cooking quinoa with onion and garlic and then mixing it with lemon juice, lemon zest, and fresh parsley. Quinoa Lentil recipe: Cooking quinoa and green lentils together is a great way to flavor otherwise tasteless quinoa.

Now that your quinoa is rinsed or toasted, it's time to cook it. For 1 cup of uncooked quinoa, you'll want to use 2 cups of water—this will yield 3 cups of cooked quinoa.

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. Let it steam with the lid on to finish absorbing any excess the water.

And one final note before you cook: Quinoa is coated in naturally occurring insecticides called saponins. They can give the grain a bitter taste and make it difficult to digest, so make sure to rinse quinoa in a fine mesh strainer before putting it on the stove. Once you've rinsed it, you're ready to cook!

Because quinoa is high in fiber and protein, which are nutrients that help promote satiety, choosing quinoa over grains lower in fiber and protein, such as white rice, may help you feel more satisfied after meals. That said, quinoa is a good source of protein and can help you meet your daily protein needs.

You can eat one-two cups of cooked quinoa in a day. You should avoid eating it if you experience stomachache, itchiness or vomiting after consuming it. A study by Harvard Public School of Health has reported that eating a bowl of quinoa daily is healthy and without any side effects.

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.

We tend to think of quinoa as a savory food to be eaten at lunch or dinner. That doesn't have to be the case. Top your quinoa with fresh berries, peanut butter, shredded coconut and honey for a sweet yet healthy breakfast option. You can also make overnight quinoa as an alternative to overnight oats.

Some people are particularly sensitive to saponins, which is why unrinsed cooked quinoa has a reputation for tasting bitter. However, most quinoa that is sold in packages has been "pre-rinsed," which means the saponins have been removed and rinsing isn't necessary.

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.

Why does my quinoa taste bad? ›

If your quinoa still tastes bitter, there is likely still some saponin left on the quinoa. A small amount of saponin will produce enough bitterness to affect a whole bag.

What can I add to quinoa after it's cooked? In addition to more of the spices, salt and pepper, or squeeze of citrus, fresh herbs such as cilantro, basil, and mint work beautifully with this spiced quinoa.

The fiber in quinoa can also help with cholesterol and blood sugar levels, lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Quinoa is rich in antioxidants, which can prevent damage to your heart and other organs. A diet high in antioxidants has been linked with a decreased risk of heart disease.

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.

If quinoa gives you digestive distress …

Soaking quinoa can help make it easier for your body to break down the seed. To do this, measure the quinoa and put it in a bowl with about twice as much room temperature water and a splash of apple cider vinegar. Cover and let sit.