This is a basic, fail-proof Instant Pot quinoa recipe that gives your perfectly cooked, fluffy and moist quinoa grain every time! Use it in a salad, as a side dish, to make a buddha bowl or breakfast porridge.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine healthy
Keyword Grains, Instant Pot Sides, Quinoa, Quinoa Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutesminutes
Cook Time 15 minutesminutes
Total Time 20 minutesminutes
Servings 6
Calories 229kcal
Author Irena Macri
Ingredients
2cupsquinoawhite, rinsed under cold water
3cupswateror vegetable broth
1teaspoonsalt
1tablespoonolive oil
Instructions
Place the quinoa in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse it under cold running water for a minute or two. This helps remove any residual bitterness or saponin.
Add the rinsed quinoa to the Instant Pot inner pot. Add water or vegetable broth and a pinch of salt if desired. We also add a tablespoon of olive oil to keep it extra moist and fluffy. Stir through. By the way, the general ratio is 1 part quinoa to 1.5 parts liquid, but you can adjust the amount of liquid to achieve your preferred consistency.
Secure and lock the lid Set to Pressure Cook on HIGH for 1 minute. After the cooking time is complete, allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally for 10 minutes. This time is essential for the quinoa to finish cooking. It's okay to go over 10 minutes but don't be too tempted to release the pressure much earlier.
Open the lid and fluff the quinoa with a fork.
Notes
White Quinoa vs Red vs TricolorWhen it comes to cooking white quinoa, red quinoa, or tricolor quinoa in the Instant Pot, the basic cooking method remains the same. However, there are some slight differences in cooking times and water ratios. Red and tricolor quinoa may need 2-3 minutes of high pressure to achieve the desired tenderness. The water-to-quinoa ratio may vary slightly depending on the type of quinoa. White quinoa generally requires a 1:1.5 quinoa-to-water ratio, while red or tricolor quinoa may need a 1:1.75 ratio. This ensures that the grains are adequately hydrated and cooked to perfection.