Help me improve my quinoa

[Anonymous]

When making plain quinoa, just as a side for stir fry or something, it's plain and bland. Any healthy way to make it better?

I do love quinoa in other recipes, just not plain.

[Anonymous]

Cook in broth, and add salt.

[Anonymous]

I don’t make quinoa, but I generally add garlic and onion to nearly everything. Depending on my mood, I may also add green pepper, mustard, or red pepper flakes.

If you want to use it as a side to a stir-fry, you might season with furikake (I like Trader Joe’s) or soy sauce. Generally, though, I think most of the flavor comes from the stir fry, with the side being intentionally bland (I’m thinking of Chinese restaurants serving white rice with their entrees).

[Anonymous]

Instead of using water, I use low sodium bone broth from Trader Joe's. I use butter and salt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cook in broth, and add salt.

+1 We always cook it in broth with seasonings. Otherwise it tastes like dirt.

[Anonymous]

I only serve it as a side for stew, or a saucy dish.

[Anonymous]

Cook in broth and add a slice of parmesan rind (I keep leftover rinds frozen in a bag in my freezer)

[Anonymous]

Add in a couple of frozen garlic cubes along with salt and pepper.

[Anonymous]

There's a great quinoa recipe in the Deborah Madison Vegetarian cookbook. I can't recall all the details but I think it was some combo of the following:
1) sauteed a small amount of fine-cut veggies first and boiled it along with the quinoa (onion or green onion/zucchini/carrot/garlic/walnut maybe?)
2) switched out 1 cup of water for carrot juice and added some subtle spices like tumeric to give it color.

Whenever I have carrot juice on hand I always put it in my quinoa. Otherwise I use a scoop of better than bullion vegetable edition.
If you have a fancier rice cooker with a quinoa mode I do find it makes quinoa way better than on the stove. It takes slightly longer but the grains are fully saturated and taste really good.

[Anonymous]

I gave up. I've realized I don't like it and don't make it anymore.

[Anonymous]

I make a Mediterranean quinoa salad that people love!! The only dressing is lemon juice and EVOO with salt.

Everyone is always asking for the recipe. I cook the quinoa and add dice/mince red onions, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, kamalata olives, yellow, red,or orange bell peppers, then add the fresh lemon juice, olive oil and salt to taste.

[Anonymous]

I realize this is the same as "cook it in chicken broth instead of water", but I add Better Than Bouillon. Eating last night's leftover quinoa right now!

[Anonymous]

I add some rice to it and also use chicken stock

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is the same as "cook it in chicken broth instead of water", but I add Better Than Bouillon. Eating last night's leftover quinoa right now!

Honestly, I didn't think of BTB which I have but rarely use. Thank you! This is the easiest option for a quick dinner. Just made it and it's great!

[Anonymous]

Cook it in broth and it will taste better. Or add a scoop of pesto to cooked quinoa when it is still warm - yum!