fluffyquinoa

 

How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa

 

When it comes to the carbohydrates in your diet, there’s no reason you should ever have to avoid these completely. Instead, it’s all about making smarter choices with your carbohydrate selections so that you can avoid blood sugar spikes and crashes that only lead to excess calories consumed and fat storage.

Quinoa is one of the good grains to consider. This complex carbohydrate source will help to keep your blood sugar balanced for hours after you consume it and provide the high level of energy you need to get through intense workout sessions.

In addition to that, this grain is also a complete source of protein, which no other grain can boast about itself. For anyone who doesn’t naturally eat as much protein in their diet or who is going about a vegetarian lifestyle, this makes it an excellent choice to consider.

One of the main reasons why this grain is often passed over is simply because people don’t know how to cook it properly. So instead, they simply opt for brown or white rice, which they’ve been cooking for years.

But, as you’re about to see, cooking quinoa is no harder than cooking up a batch of brown rice, which is all the more reason to be adding it to your diet plan. Additionally, since it’s a gluten free option, it’s also great for those who have jumped on this diet trend bandwagon and who are omitting all wheat and gluten from their protocols.

How To Cook It

The first thing to know about quinoa is that it’s best to rinse and rub this grain before cooking it. This will help to remove the saponins from the seeds, which can add a bitter taste to the grain.

Simply place the quinoa in a mesh strainer and run cold water over it and then rub the seeds between your hands. You can taste the seeds at any point to see if the bitter taste is gone as well.

To start the cooking process, you’ll want to measure out one part of quinoa with two parts of water (or a liquid of your choice) in a pot. Bring this mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for about fifteen minutes.

When the grains look almost translucent, you know that the quinoa is finished. Fluff it with a fork and then you’re ready to serve.

Other Ways To Cook It

If you’re someone who prefers a more nutty taste to your quinoa, you can achieve this by roasting the quinoa in a skillet over medium-low heat for about five minutes, stirring continuously.

Once this process is completed, then simply cook it as mentioned above, and you’ll find you arrive at a slightly different taste for this grain than you would have without doing this step.

All in all, quinoa is an excellent food to have in your diet and will help you fuel those intense workout sessions, maximizing your fitness progress.