How to Cook Black Quinoa

Co-authored by Jessica Gibson Reviewed by Chef Jeff Woodward

Last Updated: April 6, 2024

If you're trying to replace carbs with more nutritious foods, make a batch of black quinoa. This type of quinoa has a sweeter, earthier flavor than white quinoa, which makes it great to eat with your favorite vegetables or dressings. For the best texture, cook black quinoa on the stove until it's tender or microwave it if you're in a hurry.

Ingredients

1 cup (170 g) of black quinoa
1 ³⁄₄ cups (410 ml) of water or broth
1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) of salt

Makes 3 cups of quinoa

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Simmering on the Stovetop

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1
Rinse 1 cup (170 g) of black quinoa. Put the dry quinoa into a fine mesh strainer and hold it under cold running water. Rinse the quinoa for 10 to 20 seconds and let the water drain out.^{[1]
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- While you may be tempted to skip this step, rinsing the quinoa will remove its naturally bitter coating.
2
Put the quinoa into a pan with 1 ³⁄₄ cups (410 ml) of water and salt. Dump the rinsed quinoa into a medium-sized saucepan and pour in 1 ³⁄₄ cups (410 ml) of cold water. Then add 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) of salt.
- For extra flavor, substitute vegetable or chicken broth for the water.
Variation: For a hands-off way to make quinoa, put all of the ingredients into a rice cooker. Then, put the lid on it and switch the cooker on.

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Turn the burner on to high and leave the saucepan uncovered as the water heats. Keep heating the quinoa in the water until the water begins to boil vigorously.^{[2]
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4
Cover and simmer the quinoa for 20 minutes. Turn the burner down to low and put the lid on the saucepan. Then, leave the quinoa to simmer until it's absorbed the water and become tender.
- Resist the urge to lift off the lid and check the quinoa as it simmers since this will release steam and increase the cooking time.
- Keep in mind that black quinoa takes about 5 to 6 minutes longer to cook than white quinoa.
5
Drain the cooked quinoa. Turn off the burner and set a fine mesh strainer in the sink. Carefully spoon the quinoa into the strainer so excess water drains into the sink.^{[3]
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- Draining the quinoa will give it a fluffy texture that's not gummy or sticky.
6
Put the quinoa back in the pan and let it rest for 15 minutes. Spoon the drained quinoa back into the saucepan and put the lid on it. Leave the quinoa for 15 minutes so it finishes cooking and dries out.^{[4]
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- You can prepare dressing or other ingredients to serve with the quinoa while it rests.
7
Fluff the quinoa with a fork before you serve it. Remove the lid and use a fork to toss the quinoa gently. Then, mix in any dressing you like and serve it with your choice of sides, such as roasted vegetables, chickpeas, or herbs. For a heartier meal, eat the black quinoa with seafood, a roast, or kebabs.^{[5]
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- Refrigerate leftover black quinoa in an airtight container for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze the quinoa for up to 2 months and thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Microwaving Black Quinoa

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1
Rinse 1 cup (170 g) of black quinoa. Place the uncooked black quinoa into a fine mesh strainer and hold it under cold running water to rinse the quinoa for 10 to 20 seconds. Then, let the water drain out.^{[6]
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- It's important to rinse the quinoa because this will remove the natural bitter coating.
2
Place the quinoa in a microwave-safe bowl with water and salt. Transfer the black quinoa to a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl and pour in 1 ³⁄₄ cups (410 ml) of water along with 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) of salt.^{[7]
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- To add flavor, use vegetable or chicken broth instead of water.
3
Cover the bowl and microwave the quinoa for 6 minutes. Put a microwave-safe lid on the bowl and put it in the microwave. Then, heat the quinoa on high power for 6 minutes.^{[8]
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- Since the quinoa needs time to steam as it cooks, avoid lifting up the lid to check it as it heats.
Tip: If you don't have a lid for the bowl, place a plate over the bowl.
Carefully remove the lid and stir the quinoa. About 1/2 of the water should be absorbed by this point. Then, put the lid back on and heat the quinoa for 4 more minutes or until it's tender.^{[9]
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5
Fluff the quinoa with a fork and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Wear oven mitts to take the bowl out of the microwave and remove the lid. Use a fork to fluff the quinoa and then put the lid back on. Leave the quinoa to sit for 5 to 10 minutes so all of the water is absorbed.^{[10]
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- If there's still liquid visible at the bottom of the bowl, microwave the quinoa in 30-second increments until it's absorbed.
6
Serve the black quinoa. You can stir seasonings or dressings of your choice into the fluffy quinoa and serve it with your meal. Keep in mind that quinoa makes a great replacement for starchy foods, such as rice or noodles.
- To store leftover quinoa, refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

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Tips

If you're unsure if you'll like the flavor of black quinoa, try making a mix of quinoa. You can often buy a tri-color blend of quinoa that includes white, black, and red quinoa.

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Mix black bean quinoa with black beans and avocado for a quick salad.

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