Moroccan Quinoa Salad

Quinoa: To Rinse or Not to Rinse

Quinoa is a small but mighty, protein-packed grain—that’s actually a SEED, but let’s not get too picky.

It’s light, fluffy, slightly nutty and way more exciting than plain rice. But before you cook it, here’s the big question:

Do you really need to rinse quinoa?

The short answer? Yes.

The long answer? Yes, yes you do!

Quinoa has a natural coating called SAPONIN that protects it from pests but also gives it a slightly bitter taste that some people describe as soapy. 

Rinsing washes away the coating, leaving just the nutty flavor that makes quinoa so popular.

Grab a fine-mesh strainer and add the quinoa—a regular colander won’t work since quinoa is tiny and will fall through the holes.

Place it under the faucet and rinse the quinoa under cold water for about a minute, occasionally shaking the strainer or stirring the quinoa with a spoon. 

Then give the strainer a few taps and let the quinoa drain for a minute before cooking.

Many brands of quinoa are sold pre-rinsed, and it usually says so right on the label, but I rinse it anyway. 

It takes 1 minute and guarantees better flavor—no weird aftertaste and no bitterness...just betterness! 

Is that a word?