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Microwave Quinoa Recipe - How to make quinoa in microwave?

Learn how to cook quinoa in the microwave. This is the fastest way of cooking quinoa. Make a batch, use it in soups, salads, and breakfast.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 8 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Servings 3 cups
Calories 209kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa* rinsed under cold water
  • 2 cups of water

Optional:

  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or butter

Instructions

  • Rinse quinoa: Place quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water.
  • Place ingredients in a bowl: Place rinsed quinoa and water in a large microwave safe bowl. Add the salt and oil, if using. Stir to make sure that quinoa is fully submerged in water.
  • Cover it with a plate that is large enough to fully cover the bowl. You can also use a microwave cover.
  • Cook for 6 minutes on high in your microwave. Carefully remove the plate using a kitchen towel. Give it a stir. Put the plate back on and cook for another 4 minutes on high. When you take it out of the microwave, carefully remove the plate on top and examine the quinoa. If there are still a lot of seeds that are not opened put it back for one more minute.
  • Remove from the microwave. At this point, you might still have some liquid in the bowl. This is normal.
  • Let it sit covered on the counter for 5 minutes. As it sits, most of the liquid will be absorbed. In the end, if there is still water in the bowl, remove the plate and wait for a few more minutes.
  • Fluff it with a fork and serve.

Notes

  • This recipe and timing work perfectly with white quinoa. However, I have some readers report that some tricolor quinoa brands take longer to cook. To photograph this recipe, I used Trader Joe's tricolor quinoa so this was not an issue for me. 
    If this happens to you, place the quinoa back in the microwave and cook in 1-minute increments until you see the quinoa seeds pop open, revealing the germ of the kernel.
  • How To Store leftover microwave quinoa? Bring it to room temperature, place it in an airtight container, and keep it in the fridge for upto 4-5 days.
  • Please know that the type and age of your quinoa might affect the cooking time. The best way to tell doneness is by examining the seeds after the cooking time is completed. If necessary, if you are left with quinoa that is not fully cooked, even after 10 minutes, you can continue to cook in 1-minute increments. However, be sure to stop and check to make sure it has enough liquid every time you extend the cooking time. 

Nutrition

Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 319mg | Fiber: 4g | Vitamin A: 8IU | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 3mg