Perfectly fluffy quinoa anyone? It has been a while since I wanted to share a post on how to cook the perfect quinoa. For me, that only means al dente quinoa, not mushy quinoa.
Have you ever experienced going to a restaurant, trying to eat something healthy, asking for quinoa and get the most overcooked, mushy thing, pretty much flavorless? Me too! So you’re not alone…
In spite of all its super powers, quinoa is still one of the most underrated foods. Why? I think the main reason is we don’t cook it properly. When quinoa is well done, properly cooked, it’s an amazing ingredient.
Why quinoa should be a staple in your kitchen
Quinoa can be the core ingredient of a dish. It can also be the vehicle to transport a myriad of ingredients, including all kind of veggies, herbs, fruits, and animal protein. These days quinoa is a staple in my kitchen as it is going to be in yours, once you discover that cooking it to perfection is not complicated at all. Keep reading.
According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a cup of cooked quinoa has 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. As if that wouldn’t be enough, quinoa has another charm. Unlike other plant based proteins, quinoa contains all nine amino acids needed by the human body. This means it’s a complete protein. Bingo!
Technically a seed, quinoa is considered a grain and is naturally gluten free. Originally from the Andean region of Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru, this seed has been cultivated for more than 5.000 years by the indigenous people of South America.
How to cook perfectly fluffy quinoa
My “secret” to cook the perfect quinoa is not a secret at all. I simply toast the quinoa before adding the liquid to cook it.
Do I rinse the quinoa before toasting and cooking it? Only if the quinoa doesn’t come pre-rinsed. The reason to rinse it is to take away the bitter flavor of the saponin, a quinoa’s natural coating. If you prefer to rinse it no matter what, go ahead. It won’t hurt. The only thing is the toasting process will take longer.
The quinoa/liquid ratio is 1:2. That mans one part of quinoa for two parts of liquid. This can be simply water, water with some seasoning like fresh or dry herbs, or broth. Since I use my plain quinoa in multiple recipes, I prefer to cook it with water and a pinch of salt. Keep in mind that one cup of quinoa yields three cups of cooked quinoa.
Do I boil the liquids before adding them to the quinoa? The answer is no. Once the quinoa is toasted, I add the liquids at room temperature, add a pinch of salt, bring them to boil at high heat, and then cover and simmer for 12 minutes.
Where to buy quinoa
The most common quinoa types are white, yellow, red and black, but there are at least 120 different varieties. You can easily find quinoa online through my Amazon Affiliate Program, including: black, red and white quinoa, all organic.
Plain quinoa recipe
Following is my “recipe”. I hope you like it as much as I do. Thank you for subscribing to my Youtube channel and visiting my Amazon Store.
Perfectly Fluffy Quinoa
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa organic, pre-rinsed
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Instructions
- In a small pot, add the quinoa and toast it by cooking it at medium heat and stirring constantly for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the water and salt, stir, increase the heat to high and bring to boil.
- Once it boils, lower the heat, cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes.
Video
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @enrilemoine on Instagram and hashtag it #byenrilemoine. Thank you!
Following are some of my favorite recipes made with my perfectly fluffy quinoa:
Red Quinoa Tabbouleh or Tabouili
- Venezuelan Rice and Tuna Salad Recipe - June 29, 2026
- Classic Torta Caprese Recipe: Dense, Fudgy, and Gluten-Free - June 14, 2026
- Venezuelan Plantain Arepas with White Cheese Recipe - June 10, 2026
I love quinoa and this indeed looks very fluffy! I will need to incorporate more quinoa in our diet.
I am a huge fan of quinoa! I usually toast my rice when I make Mexican rice but I never thought to toast quinoa! Thanks for this great post!
I have actually never tried quinoa but I definitely want to after seeing this.
I have got to get into quinoa now that I’m trying to live a more healthy lifestyle, so this is mega helpful for me. Thanks so much for sharing this with all of us!
Great tips, I’ll have to try this!! I usually avoid quinoa because my kids hate it AND make a HUGE mess with it. But it’s so good for you, I need to find some recipes that will get the kids to actually eat it… any recommendations?
Try quinoa flakes to start with. Use it as oatmeal substitute.
I love Quinoa but sometimes find that I mess it up when cooking. Thank you for this recipe, it’ll help me stay on track so it doesn’t end up like mush.
I used to love eating quinoa but ever since being diagnosed with Celiac I’ve been too afraid. The zesty salad looks like it would be absolutely incredible!
I love quinoa! PLUS it’s healthy. thank you for sharing this recipe! <3
We love quinoa and I wanted to make the tabouleh recipe that you featured the other day but couldn’t get back to it. I am so happy to see it included in this post!
I can’t believe how fluffy they are! Amazing!!! Can’t wait to try your recipe. Thanks a lot for sharing.
I love quinoa! However, I’ve never made it that perfectly fluffy! Didn’t know it’s so super easy even for total beginners! 🙂
Even through your images I can tell that this is really fluffy and looks delicious. I will have to incorporate some of these tips next time I make it.
We love Quinoa, and it is so easy to make, great back to basic quick and easy recipe!
I need to make this instead of oatmeal. It sounds so delicious.
Interestingly this is the first time I’ve seen or heard about this dish and it does look really yummy! It looks exactly like a dish we eat at home which we call “acha” I hope I get to taste this someday.
A perfectly fluffy quinoa is perfect for many yummy recipes. Even eating plain quinoa is yummy. This year as I am going into a more healthy eating habit, I am eating more quinoa than rice.
We love quinoa, it’s so healthy. These recipes look great, especially the Cinco de Mayo salad.
Soy muy fan de la quinoa Enri. Si bien es cierto que la descubrí hace escasos dos años, pero ahora la comemos todas las semanas varias veces. Al ser gluten free la he incorporado a nuestra dieta. Un beso preciosa
Super smart! I’m going to try toasting my quinoa next time. Great tip!
Thanks for this recipe. I love quinoa and I eat it very often as a rice substitute, but I never quite got it how to cook it right. It always turns out watery.
This looks so delicious! I haven’t had quinoa in so long.
I love quinoa! Thanks for sharing your recipe for the Perfectly Fluffy Quinoa ! Yummy!
Who doesn’t want a perfectly fluffy quinoa? I definitely do! Recipe saved!
Tomare en cuenta cada paso para mi próxima preparación tu dedicación al escribir dan ganas de cocinar
This really is fluffy quinoa! I love your recipe ideas, especially that colorful salad, yum!
Quinoa! Uno de mis platillos favoritos desde que mi esposo lo empezó a cocinar, le pasaré esta deliciosa receta, para que me la cocine! Gracias Enriqueta!
I love this post, especially for quinoa, I really love everything you do Enri, you must open a restaurant!