Your essential quinoa recipe guide

What is quinoa?

By Elisa Bosley

Often called a whole grain, quinoa is actually a seed from the chard and rhubarb family. Its recent resurgent popularity belies quinoa's long history as a staple crop for millennia in the Andes, especially Peru and Bolivia, where it's called "the mother grain." Most often white or golden, quinoa seeds also come in red and black.

Quinoa's health benefits are nearly miraculous. Gluten- and cholesterol-free, 1 cup of cooked quinoa provides 5 grams fiber and 8 grams protein, plus significant folate, magnesium, calcium, B vitamins, and vitamin E. It's especially lauded as a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids (including lysine, limited in many grains, and cysteine and methionine, lacking in some legumes).

How to buy quinoa

Thanks to its increased popularity, you'll now find quinoa in most grocery stores, often in bulk bins. Natural foods markets also carry quinoa flour and quinoa flakes, as well as products such as pasta that incorporate quinoa as an ingredient.

Quinoa may strike you as a bit expensive; it generally runs $3 to $4 a pound. But because it cooks up to three times its original size, you actually get more nutrition and value for your money than a comparable amount of white rice or pasta.

And because of concerns that U.S. demand for quinoa is hurting Bolivians' access to their ancient food staple, consider purchasing only fair-trade-sourced quinoa.

How to wash quinoa

Each and every quinoa seed has a bitter coating, called saponin; most is removed prior to sale, but it's still important to wash quinoa and drain in a fine sieve before cooking to remove any traces. Use this method to wash quinoa thoroughly; the massaging technique is also a nice, Zen-like process.

How to cook quinoa

If you've got 15 minutes, you can cook any color of quinoa (shown at left are red and golden quinoa). Follow these simple steps for perfectly cooked quinoa every time. Keep in mind that 1 cup uncooked quinoa yields about 3 cups cooked.

Two clever (but optional) cooking tips: Toasting quinoa in a dry pot and starting its cooking with boiling water help grains to cook up fluffy and separate.

Quinoa recipes: breakfast

Simply mix cooked quinoa with dairy or nondairy milk, chopped toasted nuts, and fresh or dried fruit as a satiating alternative to oatmeal.

For a hypoallergenic baby food, puree cooked quinoa with banana, blueberries, or steamed sweet potato; thin with liquid.

And try our breakfast recipes for Maple-Pecan Quinoa (pictured); Pink and Purple Quinoa; and Molasses Quinoa Waffles.

Quinoa recipes: entrees

Have quinoa for dinner tonight! Each of these entrees cooks up in 30-45 minutes.

Cashew Curry with Kale and Quinoa (pictured)

Grilled Chicken Breasts with Citrus-Scented Quinoa

Quinoa and Salmon Stew with Tomatoes

Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers

Fennel and Turkey Bolognese with Quinoa Pasta

Quinoa recipes: side dishes

Try these quinoa accompaniments with any meal.

Quinoa with Early Summer Herbs (pictured)

Golden Quinoa Pilaf with Tart Cherries

Toasted Quinoa with Kale and Pine Nuts

Quinoa, Kale, and Pear Dressing

Quinoa Corn Muffins

Quinoa recipes: salads

Create salads with quinoa for a nutrient-dense twist and hearty texture.

Black Bean, Corn, and Quinoa Salad (pictured)

Roasted Asparagus and Quinoa Salad

Quinoa, Chicken, and Currant Salad

Green-Tea Scented Quinoa with Corn

Southwestern Quinoa and Edamame Salad

Quinoa, Cannellini Bean, and Spinach Salad

Quinoa and Pecan Salad with Dried Cranberries

Quinoa recipes: desserts

Yes, you can eat quinoa for dessert! Try our excellent recipes for Chocolate-Date Quinoa Cookies and Quinoa-Fig Pudding. Both offer a tasty way to use up leftover cooked quinoa. Yum!