A couple of years ago, quinoa wasn’t even on my radar as a food that I would want to eat. Once I went gluten-free though, it became necessary to really explore foods that I hadn’t considered before and the absence of so many of my go-to carbs made this option seem rather appealing.

In all honesty, since changing my diet to gluten-free, it has become my favorite pantry staple that I have used to create delicious, protein-packed dishes that my whole family loves. However, please keep in mind that quinoa has “gluten-like” storage proteins that can mimic proteins found in wheat, barley and rye so it might now be the right choice for everyone.

Wild Oats thankfully offers a variety of delicious quinoa options that you can find on your local Walmart shelves. Today I want to share a little bit about what quinoa is and some tips for preparing it!

What is quinoa?

• Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is a gluten-free seed that originates from the Andean region of South America.
• It’s a fantastic source of protein, fiber, vitamin B and iron and contains all eight amino acids.
• Though smaller than rice, barley, farro and bulgur, quinoa looks like a grain thanks to its neutral coloring and hard exterior. In reality, it is a seed related to the spinach plant.
• When cooked, it expands rapidly and significantly, becomes tender but chewy, and expels spirals that boast a slight crunch.

What does quinoa taste like?

After cooking quinoa in a liquid of your choice (water, chicken or vegetable broth), it becomes light, fluffy and nutty. I find the flavor similar to couscous and brown rice. It’s a taste difficult to describe, but worth trying simply for the nutritional benefits it offers.

How should I prepare quinoa?

Since I rely heavily upon prepping quinoa for weekly meals, I use a rice cooker because it’s reliable and hassle free. If you don’t have a rice cooker, it is a very inexpensive appliance that allows you to simply pour in ingredients and turn it on, freeing up time to create other dishes. I prefer using it because it allows me to easily double batch quinoa for the week and cooks it perfectly every time. (See how to use a rice cooker to prepare quinoa in the recipe below.)

Can I cook quinoa on the stovetop?

Yes! To cook it on the stove, measure two cups of liquid per cup of quinoa, and combine them in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a vigorous boil, and then lower the heat and simmer, covered, until the quinoa is tender, but still chewy, and white spiral-like threads appear around each grain. This should take approximately 15 minutes.

Check out my recipe for Pizza Quinoa Mushrooms.

Does plain quinoa taste good?

I don’t really love quinoa plain because it lacks a lot of flavor on its own, but I think it is a great building block for creating a variety of healthy, enjoyable dishes. I use it in my summer salads, as a protein-packed addition to a yogurt parfait, as a stuffing in my peppers, and I love to create patties with quinoa as a delicious meat-free substitute for a burger.  Consider this fun ingredient your building block, especially if you are eating a gluten-free diet.

How do I make it my rice cooker?