Fitness / March 26, 2024

Instant Pot Quinoa

Use this healthy grain as a base for your favorite healthy recipes!

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Quinoa is one of my favorite ancient grains. I use it as a replacement for rice, orzo, and I’ll even swap the penne in my cold salads with it. It’s a versatile grain and super healthy, too. Instant Pot makes using this grain even easier, promising a batch of fluffy and perfectly cooked quinoa every time. What’s more, it’s a great timesaver for those crazy weeknights when you’re needing a healthy carb for your meal.

You’ve probably guessed that this recipe is as plain as you can get. It’s meant to be a foundation, an addition, or a substitution to any number of your favorite dishes. But even plain quinoa has a distinct taste. There’s an earthy, almost nutty flavor accentuated by the fluffy and slightly chewy texture. This grain absorbs the spices and sauces of anything it’s cooked with, making it the perfect base for a variety of recipes.

Is Instant Pot Quinoa Healthy?

Quinoa is remarkably healthy and an excellent alternative to lower-nutrient grains like white rice. This super grain is packed with protein and fiber, which help you feel full faster. Quinoa has also been known to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Moreover, Quinoa doesn’t skimp on essential minerals—zinc, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium—it’s all there. There’s even 39% of your daily copper and 51% of manganese in just one cup of cooked quinoa. So is quinoa healthy? You bet it is.

What’s the difference between an Instant Pot and a Crock-Pot?

There are so many cooking appliances these days that it’s sometimes hard to get a handle on the differences. Take Instant Pots and Crock Pots. Are these names interchangeable? Are they basically the same thing? Not exactly. Let’s start with the Instant Pot.

At its core, the Instant Pot is a multifunctional pressure cooker capable of performing a wide array of cooking tasks, such as sautéing, steaming, and pressure cooking. This versatility allows the Instant Pot to cook foods rapidly under high-pressure, significantly reducing cooking time. For instance, an Instant Pot can cook your quinoa in mere minutes.

Then there’s the Crock-Pot. Similar to how Kleenex became synonymous with facial tissues, the brand name Crock-Pot has become just another name for slow cookers, regardless of the brand. As such, the Crock-Pot is more ideal for soups, stew, or any dish that tastes best after hours of simmering. In other words, your slow cooker doesn’t suit grains like quinoa, which requires the faster and high pressure environment of your Instant Pot.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup quinoa, rinsed
1½ cups water

INSTRUCTIONS

Pressure Cook

Secure the quinoa and water in the Instant Pot and pressure cook on high for just 1 minute.

Release

Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure, then remove the lid once the float valve drops.

Fluff & Serve

Fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork and it’s ready to be added to your favorite meals.

Enjoy

Serve the perfectly cooked quinoa in your desired dish!

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store?

After cooking, store in an airtight container for about 5 days in the fridge. You can also store it in your freezer for up to three months. For reheating, add little bit of moisture—water, butter, or oil should work.

I don’t Own an Instant Pot, but I do own a Slow cooker. Are you sure I can’t use my slow cooker?

Okay, if you really want to, you could use your slow cooker. Keep in mind, that the timing will be different. It’ll take anywhere from 2.5 to 3.5 hours (or longer). Also, the texture may not be the same.

Okay, what about on the stovetop?

Yes! This would be an even better alternative to the slow cooker, and much more efficient as well. However, you’ll need to up the amount of water to 2 cups instead of the 1 1/2 cups required for the Instant Pot version.

Can I add salt?

Yes. Feel free to add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt if desired.

Should I rinse the quinoa before putting it in the Instant Pot?

Please do. Rinsing the quinoa removes the inherent bitter taste. That bitterness comes from saponin, a chemical designed to keep animals from eating the quinoa.

Serving Suggestions

Quinoa is the perfect starting point for so many recipes. I use them as a substitute for pasta, rice, and potatoes all the time. The trick is to add some flavor. Sometimes, all you need is butter (cultured butter is best). Quinoa is perfect in salads, veggie burgers, and it’s healthy side to steaks, too. They’re even tasty in fruit salads!

Instant Pot Quinoa

Use this healthy grain as a base for your favorite healthy recipes!

Course component

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Calories 156kcal

Author FoodFaithFitness

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa rinsed
1½ cups water

Instructions

Place 1 cup of rinsed quinoa and 1½ cups of water into your 6-quart Instant Pot. Ensure the lid is secured properly and set the appliance to Pressure Cook on High for 1 minute.
After the cooking time has elapsed, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure, which should take about 10-15 minutes. Wait for the float valve to drop before safely removing the lid.
Using a fork, gently fluff the quinoa to separate the grains and serve as desired. This versatile base can be used in a variety of dishes.
DEVOUR!