Quinoa

Perfect Quinoa

• Author: Cookie and Kate
 
• Prep Time: 2 mins
 
• Cook Time: 20 mins
 
• Total Time: 22 minutes
 
• Yield: 3 cups 1x
 
• Category: Staple
 
• Method: Stovetop
 
• Cuisine: Peruvian

★★★★★

 

4.8 from 244 reviews

Learn how to cook perfect quinoa, every time. I’ve tried all the other quinoa cooking methods and this one works best. It’s easy to cook fluffy quinoa when you know the right way to do it!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 part uncooked quinoa (e.g. 1 cup quinoa—any color will do—you will end up with three times as much cooked quinoa)
• 2 parts water (e.g. 2 cups water)
• Salt, to taste (around 1/4 teaspoon salt per cup of dry quinoa

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Rinse the quinoa: Pour the quinoa into a fine mesh colander and rinse under running water for at least 30 seconds. Drain well. This step removes any bitterness on the outside of the quinoa (caused by naturally occurring saponins).
2. Combine the rinsed quinoa and water in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then decrease the heat a bit to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook until the quinoa has absorbed all of the water, about 10 to 20 minutes (small amounts of quinoa will be ready closer to 10 minutes; larger amounts between 15 to 20). Reduce heat as time goes on to maintain a gentle simmer.
3. Remove the pot from heat, cover, and let the quinoa steam for 5 minutes. This step gives the quinoa time to pop open into little curlicues, so it’s nice and fluffy. Remove the lid and fluff the quinoa with a fork. Season with salt, to taste, unless you’re proceeding with another recipe as written.

NOTES

Serving suggestions: I love to stir a drizzle of olive oil and clove of garlic into warm quinoa for extra flavor. Other options include chopped fresh spinach or arugula, or massaged kale. Fresh herbs and/or dried spices are nice, as well as grated or crumbled cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, pitted and sliced olives, etc.
Storage suggestions: Leftover quinoa keeps well, refrigerated, for 4 to 5 days. Make sure it has cooled to room temperature before covering and chilling.

https://cookieandkate.com/perfect-quinoa/

Olsen's Kosharie

So my friend, Steph, is pretty awesome. She's traveled the world and guess what, this one right here comes from her Egypt days. I'm really excited to try it... someday :)

Olsen's Kosharie
2 c. brown lentils (dry)
1 c. rice (long grain--not instant)
1 c. macaroni
1 c. angel hair pasta broken into 1-inch strips (vermicelli or spaghetti noodles are also fine)

Cook lentils in about 6 cups of water. Boil about 10-15 minutes. Cook the rice and pastas. Layer the cooked 4 ingredients with macaroni on top. The angel hair is supposed to be fried in oil, not boiled. Top with the following red sauce and fried onions.

Red Sauce:
1 TBS garlic
3 tsp oil
1 large can of tomatoes
2 TBS white vinegar
1 chicken bouillon
1/2 tsp cumin

Cook garlic in oil until light brown. Add vinegar and tomatoes. Simmer and add bouillon and cumin. Cook about 5 minutes. Add more tomatoes if desired and salt and pepper to taste.

Cook onions on high heat and then towards the end of cooking, lower the heat and cook slowly until they are light brown and crispy.

NOTE Easy version: cook lentils, cook a Rice-a-Roni package (chicken flavored with vermicelli noodles in it) and then cook plain macaroni. Layer in the order described and top with the red sauce and onions. Serve with hummus and pita bread, chopped tomatoes, onions and cilantro.

Tartakoff Fruited Rice

I had this. It's amazing. Steph uses the Trader Joe's mixed rice grain awesomeness and it seriously made me want to cry it was so good with the pork loin.

Tartakoff Fruited Rice
1/2 c. brown rice
1/2 c. wild rice
2 TBS dried minced onion
1 TBS dried parsley
2 tsp. chicken bouillon
2 tsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. red pepper (I'm assuming cayenne)
3/4 c. dried mixed fruit
1 TBS. butter
 2 1/4 c. water

Add all ingredients except fruit and simmer 45-50 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup orange juice and simmer until tender.

*Steph's notes: Throw it all in the rice cooker. Skip the orange juice at the end. Add the mixed fruit during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Who's your daddy. That's how it's done.