Instant Pot Quinoa

This recipe for Instant Pot Quinoa requires minimal prep time and ingredients.

Plus, it is a measured out recipe to get fluffy, non-sticky quinoa in under 30 minutes each time!

Quinoa has been around in our food for a long time. It appeared quickly on the food scene and was accepted really well all around.

This grain went from being special and unique to a way of living for many. In addition, its versatile nature helped it blend in with various cuisines.

A jar full of white and tricolor quinoa is now a permanent fixture in our pantry. And we love it for a meal, breakfast or as a part of meal prep. Today, I am sharing how to make quinoa fuss-free using the Instant Pot. Moreover, this recipe can be modified in so many ways to add more flavor. So read on!

Jump to:

• What is Quinoa?
• This Recipe of Instant Pot Quinoa
• Ingredients and Substitutions
• How to make this recipe
• Expert Tips and Notes
• Recipe FAQs
• Recipes made using Instant Pot Quinoa
• Instant Pot Quinoa

What is Quinoa?

Quinoa is a flowering plant from the Amaranth family. It is classified as a seed rather than as a grain, making it friendly for many who do not consume grains for several reasons.

This annual crop is popular as a powerhouse of nutrients. Super rich in protein, fibre and Vitamin B, it appears on the healthier side of ingredients. More on quinoa can be found in this article on Wikipedia.

Available in the stores in small and large packets, I like to buy the one from Costco. However, if that is not an option, I do get this white quinoa from Amazon. Given how easy and quick it is to cook quinoa at home, I rarely venture into precooked quinoa from the store.

We often use this recipe for meal prep and enjoy the fluffy quinoa with different dals or curries. It replaces rice for many meals. Wondering why? Quinoa has fewer calories and carbs while having a much higher protein content than rice.

If you do not like the earthy taste at first, mix cooked rice and quinoa and enjoy it with dal. Over time a lot of folks agree they acquired the taste for this tiny grain.

This Recipe of Instant Pot Quinoa

• Needs just three basic ingredients; quinoa, water and salt. While these are several variations like adding oil, cooking in broth or adding some spices; this recipe is the most basic version.
• With minimal prep time, we only need to rinse the quinoa and put everything in the Instant Pot. Zero-fuss, no checking and no estimates. Timed recipe makes the same quinoa each time.
• Moreover, the recipe works well for a small amount of quinoa or a larger batch. The Instant Pot adjusts the time it takes to come to pressure and all the quinoa cooks well.
• The cooked quinoa can be used immediately, refrigerated for a couple of days or frozen for storing longer. Then all that needs to be done is heat it through and serve as desired.

This has been my go-to recipe for a long time and it works well each time. Just remember the amount of water we use here is lower than the stove-top version as there is no loss in the form of steam. More water will yield a mushy mix of quinoa.

And if you like this recipe; you must check out these Instant Pot recipes too.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Quinoa: We can use any of the types of quinoa for the recipe. White, black, red or tricolor blend work wonderfully in the recipe. Moreover, the cook time for all the kinds is the same.
• Water: We use water to first wash the quinoa and then to cook it. Regular tap water works fine. However, using vegetable stock to cook quinoa is great too. Whenever I use this I make my own Vegetable Stock using the Instant Pot.
• Salt: A pinch of salt makes the quinoa amazing. Whether you are using it further to make another recipe or just enjoying as a side, I would recommend a pinch of salt. It helps make the cooked quinoa flavorful straight out of the Instant Pot.

See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.

How to make this recipe

1- Rinse the quinoa several times in water to remove the bitterness. Then drain and transfer to the Instant Pot. Add salt.

2- Add in the water and stir. Then close the Instant Pot and let it cook on 'Pressure Cook' for 1 minute. Let all the pressure release naturally.

3- Open the Instant Pot and fluff using a fork.

4- Enjoy as desired or refrigerate or freeze the quinoa.

Expert Tips and Notes

• Though it may sound trivial, remember to rinse the quinoa a few times under running water. This step will remove the husks and remove the bitterness from the seeds.
• The recipe can be doubled or tripled too. The water content changes but the time set remains the same. The Instant Pot takes longer to come to pressure and that accounts for cook time required.
• The cooked quinoa can be consumed immediately or made as part of meal prep. Moreover, it can be refrigerated or frozen. Just warm it up for a few minutes before serving.
• Substitute water for broth to make a more flavorful version of quinoa. This is especially true for serving quinoa as a side.

Recipe FAQs

Recipes made using Instant Pot Quinoa

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