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Basic Quinoa

Name: Basic Quinoa
Prep time: 15

(5 votes, average: 3.80 out of 5)

15 min prep

10 servings

Carrot Icon for Number of Ingredients Size

3 ingredients

Often referred to as a grain, quinoa is actually a seed that, unlike most carbohydrates, can boast having complete protein as well as being rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. Complete protein aside, it...

2 cups white, red, or black quinoa
3 1/4 cups water
Pinch of salt

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Nutrition Facts

Calories

125 cals

Fat

2 g

Saturated Fat

0 g

Polyunsaturated Fat

1 g

Monounsaturated Fat

1 g

Carbohydrates

22 g

Sugar

0 g

Fiber

2 g

Protein

5 g

Sodium

20 mg

Directions

In a fine sieve rinse the quinoa a few times. Drain well.
In a thick-bottomed pot, bring the washed quinoa and water to a boil with a pinch of salt. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for 20 minutes or until the spiral around the quinoa seed has come loose and the quinoa is tender but still chewy. If there is any remaining water, drain it off.

Chef Tips

If quinoa is unfamiliar to you, don’t be afraid to try it. Once you see how easy it is to make, it will be a constant in your pantry. Our cooking method uses less water than is often recommended on the packet, and steams the quinoa in the same way as white rice. The good thing is that after the 20 minutes of cooking are up, you can leave it covered on the back of the stove to quietly steam until you are ready to serve it.

Registered Dietitian Approved

Our recipes, articles, videos, and more content are reviewed by our Registered Dietitian Kate Ueland, MS, RD, CSO, a board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition, to ensure that each is backed with scientific evidence and follows the guidelines set by the Oncology Nutrition for Clinical Practice, 2nd Ed., published by the Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group, a professional interest group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the American Institute for Cancer Research and the American Cancer Society.