Boiling quinoa or rice may seem easy, but achieving the right texture and flavor may not be. You can’t boil a cup of water, toss in some rice, couscous or quinoa (or anything else) and call yourself a chef. Most people don’t know how to achieve the texture they want.
You should be able to boil it to just the right consistency without any grains sticking to your pan. But if you’re one of those who tend to overcook quinoa by boiling it too long, this article is for you. So, don’t overcook quinoa again, and don’t be forced to eat those mushy, tasteless grains. In this short piece, you will learn how long to boil quinoa to get the consistency you want.
How long to boil quinoa
To boil quinoa correctly, you need to use the correct ratio of liquid to quinoa: one cup of liquid to one cup of quinoa. This means that the same cup used to measure quinoa should be used to measure water; however, this ratio may vary depending on the brand. So, it would also be a good idea to read the instruction label (if you have one).
You can use any combination of water, broth or milk, but it will be best to use water in most cases. Place the quinoa and salt into a small saucepan. Add the amount of water specified above to the quinoa and bring it to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer.
So, after you’ve reached this part, how long to boil quinoa?
It should be 15-20 minutes or until the quinoa is tender. Boiling time may depend on the temperature of the pan and may even change with room temperature if you live in very cold weather. So, instead of just waiting for 15 minutes, try the quinoa first and only remove it when it is tender but not yet sticking to the pan. Let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.
This recipe is excellent served with roast chicken, baked chicken, meatballs and, of course, cheese!
Is there any difference between red, black and white quinoa?
All are varieties of quinoa, with slightly different nutrient variations. White quinoa is usually the most common variety, although you can find tri-quinoa or tricolor quinoa (all three colors mixed in the same container) in your local supermarket.
White quinoa is the easiest to boil and only needs 15 minutes to be ready. Red and black quinoa have a slightly more elaborate shell and require a longer boiling time, but no more than 20 minutes.
So, as you can see, the variation in boiling time is minimal for red, black and white quinoa.
Conclusion
Quinoa is a healthy source of protein and is considered a superfood with plenty of nutrients. It is one of the most nutritious grains you can consume. But most of us do not get it right when boiling quinoa for the first time.
So, how long to boil quinoa? Depending on the variety, you should boil for 15 minutes (white quinoa) or 20 minutes (black and red quinoa).
