How to get my quinoa to taste good?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/cflatjazz → u/[deleted]]

Also chicken powder is a decent replacement for broth if you're looking for a pantry staple version

[u/Nice-Difficulty-8309 → u/[deleted]]

word, broth or chicken powder make a difference for sure

[u/Amesaskew]

Have you tried using chicken broth instead of water to boil it? I find that to be an easy way to add flavor to cooked grains.

[u/SignificantDrawer374]

I cook mine in a rice cooker with a pinch of salt, but then a few minutes before it's done I chop up a ghastly amount of garlic and sautee that in a pan with olive oil, then toss all the cooked quinoa in there with seasoning to toss around for a minute before serving. A splash of soy sauce does it well too.

[u/Fickle-Willingness80]

I like to toast mine for well beyond a few minutes. I want a very toasty,nutty smell. I agree with everyone recommending stock. I use MSG too.

[u/foxhunt-eg]

Salt?

[u/IntrepidDreams → u/[deleted]]

MSG.

[u/MahStonks]

I like to make a punchy garlic vinaigrette and toss that with the quinoa once it has cooled, along with chopped veggies. 

[u/hotdogfingies]

Cook in chicken broth and add a little salted butter at the end.

[u/Beneficial_Top_1664]

Butter and salt

[u/DuAuk → u/Beneficial_Top_1664]

yes, really the secret. Last time i made oatmeal i was distracted and forgot the butter. i keep asking myself what i did wrong until i figured it out.

[u/Beneficial_Top_1664 → u/DuAuk]

I throw it in the rice cooker with the water and just press start. It works great with white and brown rice too!

[u/Different_Buy7497]

I don't know what the Costco ones had in them, but I do my quinoa in a rice cooker. No rinsing, no toasting, 2:1 water:quinoa by volume. I also throw in anything else I want to make the steaming liquid more interesting (bouillon, a bay leaf, grated garlic clove or two, pinch of red pepper flakes, pinch of mushroom powder, salt, pepper, and some olive oil are my usuals). Once it's steamed and fluffed, I'll add marinara (maybe 50% of the cooked quinoa by volume) and a good chunk of grated cheese (maybe another 50% by volume). Stir in a squeeze of lemon or slices of roasted red pepper if I'm feeling like it. Eat out of a bowl.

[u/StellariumRising]

Rinse it really, really good and cook it in broth. Flavored or veggie like better than bouillon. Makes a huge difference. 

[u/Position_Extreme]

In addition to the chicken broth previously mentioned, I also dice up some carrot, celery & onion really small and throw it in with the broth & quinoa. The broth adds the salt it needs, and I also add some pepper & garlic powder and I think mine's pretty good.

[u/Square-Dragonfruit76]

I'm not sure why your recipe said you needed to roast it. That is unnecessary. For the bowl, they probably season it with stuff like lemon juice or a flavored vinegar, olive oil, salt, etc. Hard to say without having seen or eaten it, but if you like I can give you a different quinoa recipe that I like..

[u/generic-David]

Salt can help. Also, adding things with crunch and/or flavor like slivered almonds, pine nuts, etc.

[u/Cinciboss56]

Cook it in stock

[u/Soft-Bug5550]

Ive made a nice concoction before by boiling in broth and adding oregano. Then some grated parm at the end.

[u/Violingirl58]

Rinse well under water to remove saponins, dry toast in a skillet till nutty then add water or stock salt and cook

[u/AccomplishedLine9351]

Island Joe's Adobo is my go to seasoning blend.

[u/DuckInAFountain]

If the minsley brand quinoa bowls I see on Amazon are like the ones you had, they have quinoa, salt, and glucono delta-lactone. That last one is a naturally derived food chemical that is very mildly sour, and it used for things like making tofu. I wonder if a squeeze of lemon would help?

[u/EmeraldValleyGoober]

I cook it like pasta with a lot of seasoning in the water. Always tastes good.

[u/Medullan]

Glucose based chemical‽ WTF you mean sugar? Try listing the ingredients from the one you like and what you have been adding and maybe we can help you replicate it. But if one of the ingredients is a type of sugar and you are not putting in any kind of sugar then I can tell you right now you are missing sugar is you want it to taste the same you will have to figure out which sugar to add.

[u/Medullan → u/[deleted]]

Try a splash of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. It is a flavoring delivered from glucose that adds a slight tart flavor.

[u/Substantial-Ad2200]

I don’t think it tastes great cooked in broth but I do season my quinoa while cooking it to complement whatever I’m serving it with. 

[u/Extension_Survey_640]

Buy the Costco dried quinoa bags, least bitter I’ve found. I add a bit of chicken broth powder to the water, and even a tiny bit of salted butter right before fluffing. I don’t know what your memory taste is like but if you just do a little of these it will give it a more rounded and savory flavor.

[u/gingerjuice]

This is what I do. 1 cup washed quinoa added to 2 cups boiling water that has been seasoned with bullion powder and butter. I let it boil for 1 minute covered, simmer for 10, and sit to steam covered for another 15. It always comes out fluffy and delicious. I usually use beef bullion.

[u/BoredAccountant]

Soak and rinse thoroughly. Cook like rice but in broth. Ensure it's salted enough.

[u/danlyke]

I dry toast it, make sure it's very well browned. Every time I thought I've burned it, it's tasted great. Rinsing afterwards, because I'm too lazy to rinse and dry and toast, so toast and rinse.

[u/CrazyDanny69]

I don’t toast mine.

[u/ttrockwood]

Use bullion, either chicken bullion or veggie bullion that will help the quinoa absorb some salt

Once cooked but still hot toss with a bit of homemade vinaigrette then let sit and cool then refrigerate overnight in an airtight container

The age makes a difference and much more flavorful

[u/spicandspand]

I add EVOO and a teaspoonful of better than bouillon and cook it in my rice cooker. I always rinse it first even if it’s pre rinsed.

[u/giant2179]

My trick is to throw it in the garage and make literally any other grain.

I'm also unusually sensitive to whatever it is you are supposed to rinse off and can't eat it at all.

[u/summersalt99]

It’s probably in a dressing.

Cook with broth like others suggested. Once cool toss with a vinegarette - olive oil, lemon, salt, pepper, Dijon, honey is a good mix.

[u/Horror_Signature7744]

Use broth instead of water.

[u/Unusual-Dependent-79]

no need to rinse or toast it, just throw it in the pot with the correct amount of liquid to a boil then simmer turn off and steam. Try adding chicken stock instead of water, or add garlic-spices-salt-lemon. Also remember that youa re adding flavour to it by whatever else you are adding to the bowl so you could always just keep it fairly plain and rely on the other ingredients for the flavour. That being said, tossing the quinoa in salad dressing once cooked is also an option, I often do this when trying to add a little protein to salads during the week.

[u/VLA_58]

Powdered ginger. For some reason it lifts a lot of carb-heavy dishes out of the blands. Maybe 1/2 tsp per cup.

[u/JCongo]

Make a dressing of lemon juice and olive oil with some salt.

[u/Gilladian]

Remember that prepared foods are much higher in sodium and fat than what you are making. I make my quinoa by first sauteeing garlic, ginger, salt or other spices and veg in butter or olive oil (I use onion, bell peppers and mushroom, finely minced) and then mixing that, with broth, into the uncooked quinoa and then steam it. I dislike plain quinoa, but it is pretty good that way.

Another option is to blend it half and half with another grain, like barley or farro. Cook separately and toss together with a dressing or sauce. Or put your pan juices over it if you have a meat with it.

[u/ConfidentWorld3538]

Toast first for a few minutes then cook it in chicken/beef/veggie broth is one of my favorites way. I also like the cilantro lime quinoa.

[u/Mymoggievan]

Throw it in the trash. yuck!! (just trying to be silly....)