The preparation of quinoa all depends on the form of quinoa you are cooking. The natural grain itself may take about 15 minutes to cook. The black one may take potentially longer. Quinoa flakes take no more than two minutes to cook, making them the best on-the-go breakfast.
Quinoa works adequately on its own or as a good alternate for rice. You can also toss other ingredients with it. The subtle flavor and its fluffy texture make it easy to spice it up with different flavors. Plus, its mild taste also makes it acceptable to be served savory or sweet.
Cooking with Quinoa
There are three easy ways to cook with quinoa.
Roasting.
Heat it with a bit of olive oil in the pan and savor the subtle and nutty aroma.
Boiling.
Boil the quinoa in water or broth. You may use two parts liquid and one part quinoa in a saucepan. Cover the pan and allow it to boil. Once it boils, turn the heat down and let it finish cooking for 15 more minutes. Add some salt according to taste.
After cooking, take the pot off the stove and rest with the lid for five more minutes. Then, stir thoroughly. Let it sit for another 5 minutes before taking the excess water off.
Baking.
Quinoa can only be used as a minor component in the dough since it lacks the adhesive protein essential in the baking process. Aside from quinoa flour, whole grain quinoa can also be used for baking, which is processed into breakfast cereal or puffed rice.
Preparing quinoa seeds can be done in different ways, too.
Soaking
As with most things, it is essential to wash quinoa before cooking. This step lets it expand and allow for the breakdown of the phytic acid it contains. To do this, put the quinoa in a sieve and put it under running water. Then, let it soak in a bowl for no more than 10 minutes. Repeat the first process to rinse it.
Sprouting
The most effective method of breaking down the phytic acid in quinoa is to allow it to germinate. Since the seeds naturally take time to generate, a little preparation and planning are necessary. The first step is to let it soak for 2 to 4 hours. Then, put it in a special germination bag or an empty pot and let it germinate for 12 to 48 hours. After which, rinse the sprouted seeds.
It is best to remember that quinoa may still contain traces of saponin that give off a bitter and soapy taste even when packaged. To be sure that no saponin traces are left, wash the seeds thoroughly before preparing them by simply rinsing them off in a sieve under running water.
