Let’s talk Quinoa

firesrain

When I eat it out, it’s AMAZING.
When I cook it at home, no matter what I do, it tastes like dirt.

What am I doing wrong?

dsboohead

Thats why I wont eat it. Mine was awful. Rather eat couscous or polenta.

estherdragonbat

Do you rinse it first?

kimny72

I've never eaten it at a restaurant, I think of it as... meh. I usually toast it in the pan before adding liquid, cook it in veggie or chicken stock, and then add a little butter or vinaigrette before serving. I usually buy it looking for a change from my usual grain sides like rice, barley, and farro but it never measures up!

firesrain

I do rinse it first...and (for some varieties) allow it to sit and sprout before finishing the cook and eating.

I’ve never thought of toasting it first. This might work. I had an amazing lemon quinoa with blueberries this spring. I’ve not been able to come anywhere close!

mitch16

Rinse it well.

I've made a couple of savory recipes that I thought tasted o.k., but my husband and son were not fans.

I've also made some sweeter recipes (think apple, cinnamon, or pumpkin) for breakfast--in lieu of oatmeal--and those are pretty good.

AmyOutOfControl

I made an amazing quinoa dish for work lunch today:

1/2 cup dry quinoa
1 chopped red bell pepper
1/2 red onion - chopped
1 can of chickpeas
cherry tomatoes halved
1 cup baby spinach roughly chopped
1/4 cilantro roughly chopped
1/4 cup EVOO lemon herb salad dressing (Wishbone brand)
salt and pepper to taste

Cook quinoa according to the directions. Combine with the chickpeas and produce. Toss with dressing.

This makes 4 servings and each serving is 200 calories. I love to make this, portion it out, and take it to work for lunches.

bisky

Okay, this is my rant today against restaurants. They add a lot of salt, seasonings and oils to make foods taste better. The first warm kale salad with pine nuts I ever had was to die for. Finally asked how they prepared it as I could not replicate it...stir fried in butter.

I agree natural quinoa by itself does not have a great taste. It is full of good things though, fiber and protein. I make it in the rice cooker. I add a tsp of vegetarian Better than Boullion per cup of quinoa. I could (and probably should) add a low salt bullion but I really like the taste of Better than Bullion in my soups, rice.

If I am using quinoa in a salad I just use what ever dressing to help it out.

janejellyroll

bisky wrote: »

Okay, this is my rant today against restaurants. They add a lot of salt, seasonings and oils to make foods taste better. The first warm kale salad with pine nuts I ever had was to die for. Finally asked how they prepared it as I could not replicate it...stir fried in butter.

I agree natural quinoa by itself does not have a great taste. It is full of good things though, fiber and protein. I make it in the rice cooker. I add a tsp of vegetarian Better than Boullion per cup of quinoa. I could (and probably should) add a low salt bullion but I really like the taste of Better than Bullion in my soups, rice.

If I am using quinoa in a salad I just use what ever dressing to help it out.

If I'm paying someone to make me food, I want them to make it taste delicious! I would never rant against a restaurant for making something taste good.

hludwig980

I cook mine in a low sodium veggie stock and throw in some spices and I'm usually pretty happy with it.

Orphia

Quinoa isn't something you cook, it's something health nuts put in things they sell to impress other health nuts.



Next year it will be Bhutanese yak yoghurt.

lorrpb

I like it in soups and casseroles.

bapity88

Rinse, seasoning, cooking in stock, I'm sure you know those things. The restaurants are probably also cooking it in tons of flavor like butter, oil, etc. Would you add tons of butter to your own? Probably not. Restaurants make things more flavorful by adding those flavor enhancers.

xxzenabxx

bisky wrote: »

Okay, this is my rant today against restaurants. They add a lot of salt, seasonings and oils to make foods taste better. The first warm kale salad with pine nuts I ever had was to die for. Finally asked how they prepared it as I could not replicate it...stir fried in butter.

I agree natural quinoa by itself does not have a great taste. It is full of good things though, fiber and protein. I make it in the rice cooker. I add a tsp of vegetarian Better than Boullion per cup of quinoa. I could (and probably should) add a low salt bullion but I really like the taste of Better than Bullion in my soups, rice.

If I am using quinoa in a salad I just use what ever dressing to help it out.

Don't blame poor butter

lemurcat12

I like it, and haven't noticed a significant difference between it at restaurants or it at home.

Lounmoun

I've never had it at a restaurant. I rinsed and cooked it following the packet instructions and it tasted fine to me.
I don't love the texture of quinoa though.

Daveacpa2

Have you tried Trader Joe's frozen quinoa, tastes good out of the box.

corinasue1143

I love quinoa, I soak it for 30 minutes, rinse, add water and salt, cook 15 minutes, add chopped veggies on top, don't stir, replace lid, finish cooking. My favorite is broccoli. Also put finely minced onion in after rinsing, before cooking for flavor, but I love onions. Would probably be good with garlic if you love garlic.

rheddmobile

Buy it prerinsed.

I like the flavor of quinoa without anything special added to it. Mine always comes out delicious. I much prefer the flavor of red or black to white quinoa. It has a definite nutty flavor. If I do anything fancy to it, I sauté some diced onions, deglaze the pan with a little balsamic vinegar, then add the quinoa, salt, and water (or stock) and cook.