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A perfectly cooked bowl of fluffy quinoa is just minutes away with my Quinoa Instant Pot Recipe! This hands-off method makes perfect quinoa every time, and can easily be scaled up for big batches to prep for the whole week.
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Quinoa in the Instant Pot
In my kitchen, running out of quinoa means an immediate trip to the store. And not just because it's a good substitute for rice and wheat! Quinoa is a delicious gluten-free grain, but I'm here to tell you, quinoa is so much more than just a replacement for something else.
Cooked right, quinoa has a light and fluffy texture similar to couscous, perfect for soaking up sauces and clinging to meats like chicken or beef. With its nutty, rich flavor, it's even better mixed with beans, greens, salads, and more!
And if you've heard it's hard to cook, Instant Pot Quinoa will change your mind. Pressure cooking quinoa takes only minutes and is completely hands-off. If you've been intimidated by quinoa recipes, this recipe is for you!
Instant Pot Quinoa Ingredients
- Quinoa: Usually, you can find quinoa in either the rice aisle or health foods aisle of most local grocery stores. You can use any variety of quinoa in this recipe and it will cook perfectly. Just don't use a rice and quinoa blend, as the two types of grain won't cook evenly.
- Vegetable Broth: The choice of liquid is up to you. I use broth when I want a more flavorful side dish, and simply use water when I want to pair it with sweeter or more subtle flavors. You can also use chicken broth for this dish, but note that it will alter the flavor.
- Salt: I use kosher salt in this recipe, and recommend it.
Types of Quinoa
All varieties of quinoa will cook the same way in this recipe, so you're free to choose your favorite!
- White Quinoa: The classic! White quinoa has the softest, fluffiest texture and the mildest taste. It's the best choice for replacing pasta or white rice, and works well in sweet dishes.
- Red Quinoa: With a crunchier texture and stronger, nuttier flavor, red quinoa is a great choice when you want the dish to really be about the quinoa, versus using it as a replacement grain for something more mild.
- Black Quinoa: Similar to red, black quinoa is crunchy and strongly flavored. Try using it for curry dishes or salads that benefit from the nuttiness and texture!
- Quinoa Blend: A blend of all three quinoa colors, this mix is often the best of both worlds! With fluffiness from the white quinoa and just a hint of nutty flavor from the red and black quinoa, this is a great choice for replacing brown rice, oats for porridge, or whole-grain pasta.
How to Cook Quinoa in Instant Pot
- Rinse the quinoa under the sink with a fine-mesh strainer. Then pour the quinoa, broth, and salt into the Instant Pot, and add the lid.
- Set the pot to Manual / High Pressure. Then set the cook time to 1-3 minutes, depending on how soft you'd like the quinoa.
- After the pot has pressurized and cooked, use the natural release pressure setting and let it rest for 15 minutes.
- Give the cooked quinoa a stir to fluff it, remove from the pot, serve, and enjoy!
Cooking Quinoa in Pressure Cooker Tips
- While the cook time is only one minute, the total time will be about 23 minutes. This is due to the time it takes for the Instant Pot to pressurize and release pressure.
- Looking for more flavor? Add in any of your favorite seasonings such as turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, or any other favorite spice blend! Or, try dry-toasting the quinoa before cooking it.
- You can easily double the recipe for a big batch without changing the cook time. This is ideal for meal prep!
Quinoa Water Ratio
In most applications, the ratio for quinoa to water is 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups liquid. However, the Instant Pot is pressure sealed for less evaporation, which changes the ratio. When cooking quinoa in the instant pot, use a quinoa to water ratio of 1 cup quinoa to 1½ cups of liquid.
Quinoa Instant Pot Recipes FAQ
Thanks to the pressure cooker, large batches of quinoa cook in exactly the same amount of time as smaller batches. Just scale up the ingredient amounts and cook it the same as normal!
If you have a little extra time, dry-toasting quinoa in a skillet or by using the saute function of the Instant Pot is a great way to enhance the flavor! The toasted, nutty flavor of quinoa after dry-toasting it will make the resulting cooked quinoa rich and delicious, and it doesn't take much time.
I highly recommend always rinsing quinoa before cooking it. This can help wash out any dust or unwanted debris in the quinoa, and helps cut any sort of bitter flavor that might cling to the natural coating of the grains!
Storing Leftover Quinoa
- Refrigerator: Place cooled quinoa in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. If it starts smelling bitter, toss it right away.
- Freezer: My favorite way to store quinoa! After letting it cool entirely, place portion-sized amounts of quinoa in freezer-safe bags. Press them flat, then stack them in the freezer for up to 12 months. Always label with the current date when storing in the freezer.
- Thawing and Reheating: Frozen quinoa can be thawed in the fridge overnight, or heated in the microwave with an extra tablespoon of water for 2 minutes.
Easy Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot White Rice
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Candied Carrots
- Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
If you enjoyed the recipe, leave a comment and a rating below!
Quinoa in Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1½ cups Quinoa - any variety
- 2¼ cups Vegetable broth - or water
- 1 teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa under the sink with a fine-mesh strainer. Then pour the quinoa, water or broth, and salt into the Instant Pot, and place on the lid.1½ cups Quinoa,2¼ cups Vegetable broth,1 teaspoon Salt
- Set the pot to Manual / High Pressure. Then set the cook time to 1-3 minutes, depending on how soft you'd like the quinoa.
- After the pot has pressurized and cooked, use the natural release pressure setting and let it rest for 15 minutes.
- Give the cooked quinoa a stir to fluff it, remove from the pot, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- You can use any variety of quinoa in this recipe and it'll cook perfectly. Just don't use a rice and quinoa blend, as the two types of grain won't cook evenly.
- The choice of liquid is up to you. I use broth when I want a more flavorful side dish, and water when I want to pair it with sweeter or more subtle flavors.
- While the cook time is one minute, the total time will be about 23 minutes. This is due to the time it takes for the Instant Pot to pressurize and release pressure.
- Looking for more flavor? Add in any of your favorite seasonings such as tumeric, ginger, cinnamon, or any other favorite spice blend! Or, try dry-toasting the quinoa before cooking it.
- You can easily double the recipe for a big batch without changing the cook time. This is ideal for meal prep!
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