I started eating Quinoa before it became fancy to eat it. I chanced upon it at a Costco in California about 8 years ago and decided to try it. Suffice it to say, I hated it.
Originally posted: Oct 28, 2020
And that’s because I didn’t know how to make it. See, most recipes ask you to just boil it and that doesn’t work for me. I have a very sensitive palate; I can’t even eat Cilantro because it tastes awful to me. So, over the years, I tried various methods and finally found the one that worked for me. I’ll be honest, this is inspired by a YouTube video but I can’t seem to find it. If you find it, feel free to leave the link in the comments.
Step 1: Wash the Quinoa thoroughly. Most quinoa, especially White Quinoa from a private labeled brand like Compliments or Kirkland is usually not cleaned enough.
Step 2: Soak it overnight in tap water. This is the step that truly removes all the Saponin in the Quinoa.
Step 3: The next day, rinse it once more and let it dry. It’s okay to use the Quinoa wet if you don’t have the time to dry it.
Step 4: In a pan, heat some ghee or oil over medium. Add the Quinoa to the pan and let it fry. Remember to keep stirring or it will start burning at the bottom. You’ll know it’s done when it starts popping. At this point, the Quinoa is usually done and can be used for Salads.
Step 5: If it still tastes raw or bitter, add water to the pan – up to a few cms above the Quinoa. Add 1/2 – 1 tsp of turmeric and some salt & pepper. Boil till the water evaporates.
Serve it with a curry. I love eating Quinoa with a red or green Thai curry or Sambal.
Featured image: Photo by Pierre Bamin on Unsplash