How to Cook Perfect Quinoa Every Time

I don’t know what I ate before quinoa became a permanent pantry staple of mine. It sounds cliche given how much quinoa has been dubbed a “trendy” food, but if you ask me, the grain is here to stay. I usually make a big batch at the beginning of the week (practically with my eyes closed), then use it every way imaginable over the following days: as the base of a power bowl, the main ingredient in a veggie patty, tossed in a salad, or in a breakfast scramble. Critical to each dish is that the quinoa be cooked perfectly — moist but not soggy, firm but chewy, and most importantly, perfectly fluffy. So after tons of experimentation, I’ve finally nailed the process, and I’ll never make it any other way. Keep reading for my step-by-step technique (illustrated adorably by Kelly Colchin), as well as the recipe card below….

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And there you have it! The fool-proof secret to whipping up the perfect batch of quinoa… and isn’t it easy? Best of all, this process can be added to or adjusted depending on how you’ll be serving the quinoa — sub coconut oil for olive oil, use chicken stock instead of water, add lime zest to the mixture, the possibilities are endless once you nail down the fundamentals.

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*illustration by Kelly Colchin, photo from The Kitchn