3 ways to make quinoa taste better | why quinoa tastes bad

If you’re trying to eat healthier, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free you've probably come across the phrase "quinoa is a superfood"

Quinoa is a seed that is vegan and gluten-free.

Yea, it’s a superfood but most of the time it tastes yucky. It can’t pass a kids taste test because of its bitter taste.

Is there a way to make quinoa taste better or should I just eat brown rice?!

Below are three ways I’ve found a new love for quinoa. The secrets are revealed so you can enjoy this superfood without sacrificing yourself in the name of health.

Why does quinoa taste bitter? 

There is a chemical on quinoa, called saponin, which is harmless to us but is made to deter birds from eating this seed. If you don’t rinse and use the tips below, you may feel like the bird- this stuff doesn’t taste right!

 How to make quinoa taste better...

1. Always rinse your quinoa

Rinse quinoa in a strainer for a minute or two or until the water runs clear. This washes away some of that bitter chemical that coats the quinoa. 

I’ve done this many times but sometimes it doesn’t even work. So if it doesn’t work see #2.

2. Buy better quinoa

If you can afford it, buy higher quality quinoa. Sometimes the package will read that it has already been rinsed too! This is almost a guarantee that the quinoa will be free of that bitter taste. Often times it can be far more expensive than the quinoa in bulk. (It's worth it)

If you cannot spend the extra money on quinoa, see #3.

3. Cook quinoa in broth

My favorite way to make sure quinoa tastes great is to cook it in chicken broth. If you're vegetarian, use veggie broth. Along with rinsing your quinoa, this will mask the bitterness and make it taste much better.

I even make a breakfast quinoa porridge that is cooked with almond milk and spices. This is another great way to enjoy quinoa because the milk and spices takes away the bitter flavor. 

Get the recipe for quinoa porridge by joining the 5-day Mindful Morning Breakfast Challenge.

I hope this helped you out! 

If you do make a quinoa dish and start to enjoy it, please tag me on insta @chefjoannas 

Related Articles:

• Quinoa Salad with Kale
• Roasted Pumpkin Quinoa
• Quinoa Tabuli

View this post on Instagram

This is my gift to you. Go ahead and save this recipe for the fall. You’ll be glad you did! . Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Pomegranate, Quinoa, and Feta . Serves: 4 . Ingredients: . ½ cup quinoa 1 cup organic chicken or vegetable broth 3-4 cups butternut squash, cut into ½” cubes 1 tsp. Sea salt, divided ¼ cup olive oil ¼ cup orange juice ¼ cup pomegranate juice (can use cranberry) 2 Tbsp. water Fresh ground black pepper 1 (5-oz.) bag arugula ½ cup feta, crumbled ¼ cup walnuts ½ cup pomegranate seeds (or dried cranberries) . Directions: . Preheat oven to 425 F (218 C). . The best way to peel a butternut squash safely is to poke holes in it and microwave it for 5-6 minutes. Then, it softens and you can peel it with a vegetable peeler. . Place butternut squash on baking tray and toss with 1-2 tsp. Vegetable oil and ¼ tsp. of salt. . Toss and place in oven once its hot. Cook for 30 minutes at least, or until tender. (The smaller you cut them, the faster they will cook). Turn every 10-15 minutes to prevent squash from burning. . Cook quinoa. In a medium sauce pan combine quinoa and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 15-17 minutes or until quinoa is tender. . In a small bowl, mix the ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ orange juice, ¼ cup pomegranate juice, water, and ½ tsp. Salt and pepper. Use half the dressing to toss with the arugula. Use a little of the dressing to toss with the quinoa. . To plate the salad, place some quinoa on the bottom of plate, then top with dressed arugula and finally the feta, walnuts, and pomegranate seeds. . #healthylifestyle #healthyfood #wellness #wellnessjourney #lunch #salad #quinoa #quinoasalad #quinoabowl #eatclean #onlinecookingclasses #lunchchallenge

A post shared by Chef Joanna’s Kitchen (@chefjoannas) on Sep 17, 2020 at 2:44pm PDT

This post contains affiliated links. Please read my disclosure page.