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

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!

I add some rice to it and also use chicken stock

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!

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

Anonymous wrote:Cook in broth, and add salt.

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

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

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).

Cook in broth, and add salt.

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.