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Simple Spoonfuls

May 19, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Easy 1 Minute Instant Pot Quinoa

Salads and Sides· Vegetarian

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The Instant Pot is your secret weapon in the kitchen when it comes to preparing a batch of quinoa. For meal prep, it frees up your hands, and your stove, so you can multitask like a boss. This fool proof method makes perfectly fluffy quinoa every time!

raw quinoa in a measuring cup

Why cook your quinoa in an instant pot?

Using your Instant Pot, or pressure cooker, for making quinoa isn’t a new concept. I worked my way through a number of different recipes, like this one from Detoxinista. However, I just kept running into the same problem: mushy quinoa. I made adjustments to the cooking time, water ratio, and took the opportunity to add in extra flavor. This way, your quinoa will turn out perfectly “al dente” every time so it can still soak up dressing or sauce without getting soggy.

When it comes to meal prepping, I always wish for an extra set of hands to maximize my efficiency. So anytime I can have something basically do the cooking for me, I’m sold! That’s where the instant pot comes into play. You just toss all your ingredients into the pot, set the time, close the seal and tell Alexa to set a timer. Best of all, you can easily double or triple the recipe to batch cook it for use in a variety of meals throughout the week.

Tips for making instant pot quinoa like a pro

There are a few key tricks to making sure your quinoa turns out perfectly fluffy and delicious every time.

  • Rinse the quinoa super well in a colander. This will help to eliminate some of the inherent bitterness of quinoa.
  • Hit your instant pot with a little cooking spray before adding your ingredients in order to make sure you don’t get any stickage.
  • As with any instant pot recipe, make sure you set the pressure release knob to “SEAL” (not vent) so that the pressure can build up to cook the quinoa.
  • Release the pressure from your Instant Pot or pressure cooker 7 minutes. If you let it go longer, you’ll end up with mushy quinoa and nobody wants that.
  • Stop the quinoa from overcooking by spreading it into a thin layer on a cookie sheet. If you can fit it in a fridge, great. If not, just the act of spreading it out like that will still help it cool quickly.
  • Don’t be afraid to flavor your grains! I like to add aromatics like shallot and garlic but you could also throw in fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme. Or if you really want to take it the extra mile, use chicken or veggie stock instead of water.

HOW LONG DOES IT *REALLY* TAKE TO COOK?

Okay, okay, calling it 1 minute Instant Pot quinoa is a bit of a stretch. While the “cook” time is really 1 minute, with any pressure cooker you have to allow for the extra time to build up the pressure and then subsequently release the pressure. So *technically* it would be more like 15 minute quinoa from start to finish. 

UNDERSTANDING HOW TO USE THE INSTANT POT

Once you’ve plugged it in, you will hit the “pressure cook” button and then adjust the cook time to 1 minute. The most important step is to turn the knob on your lid to the “Seal” setting, not “Vent”, otherwise you won’t create any pressure. Once the 1 minute timer is up, you’ll hear it start beeping. At this point, the red light on the pressure cook button will turn off and it will switch to the “keep warm” mode. The timer will count UP to 7 minutes, and that my friends is when you’ll manually release the pressure. CAREFULLY turn the knob on top from “seal” to “vent”. It will sputter and spray crazy hot steam out the top. NOTE: The lid won’t open until the pressure is fully released.

PRO TIP: In order to avoid mushy quinoa, spread the hot grains out on a sheet pan or plate so they can cool quickly and not overcook. This will help keep it from clumping together too.

Quinoa recipes to enjoy

These are some of my favorite recipes to enjoy with quinoa! I love how versatile it is to use in soups, salads, stuffings, and even baked goods!

  • Sundried Tomato and Basil Quinoa Patties
fluffy cooked quinoa piled in a bowl
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Easy 1 Minute Instant Pot Quinoa

With just one minute on the pressure cook cycle, you can enjoy delicious, fluffy quinoa from your Instant Pot!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Course: Side Dish
Servings: 3 cups
Author: Katie Clack

Equipment

  • Instant Pot multi cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 2 tbsp minced shallot
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup water
  • nonstick spray

Instructions

  • Rinse the quinoa thoroughly in a colander, drain well.
  • Spray the inside of the pressure cooker lightly with nonstick spray.
  • Add the quinoa, shallot, garlic, salt and pepper to pressure cooker.
  • Add 1 cup of filtered water to the quinoa mixture in the pressure cooker.
  • Secure lid, making sure to turn the pressure dial on the top to "SEAL".
  • Select the "Pressure Cook button" and set timer to 1 minute.
  • Once the 1 minute timer has elapsed, wait for an additional 7 minutes. Then manually release the pressure by turning the knob on the lid from "SEAL" to "VENT", by using a hot pad or dish towel to protect your skin from the hot steam that will be released.
  • Fluff the quinoa with a fork and then spread out on a cookie sheet to cool before storing.

Notes

  • I can’t stress enough how careful you need to be when releasing the pressure from your cooker.  I usually throw a dish towel over the entire unit and turn the knob so that the steam stays trapped underneath, and my kitchen windows don’t fog up.
  • You can easily double or triple all the ingredients and you’ll still get great results.  Just don’t use less than the 1 cup of quinoa and 1 cup of water, otherwise there won’t be enough liquid to cover the bottom of the pot to cook evenly.
  • I include aromatics like shallot and garlic in this recipe, but that’s totally optional.  You can also add fresh thyme or rosemary for a pop of flavor.  For extra richness, swap out the water for chicken stock.  
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simple_spoonfuls

#ad I wanted to share my entry for the #beginwith #ad  I wanted to share my entry for the #beginwithjuice contest to create a recipe that uses 100% fruit juice. I’m SO proud of how yummy this cast iron blood orange chicken turned out! 🍊🍗

The blood orange juice,  chicken stock and caramelized red onions reduce down to a luxurious sauce that is delicious served over a bed of fluffy couscous.

This chicken is the perfect date night or entertaining recipe thanks to the gorgeous pink blood oranges. 🍊

Drop me a comment if you’d like the full recipe so you too can wow your family and friends! 💫

#castironskillet #chickenrecipes #chickenrecipe #chickenfordinner #orangechicken #bloodorange #bloodoranges #citrus #easydinner #easydinners #mediterraneandiet #healthyrecipeshare #foodphotography #mealprepmonday #greenolives #simplespoonfuls #whatimadetoday #whatiatefordinner #whatiatetoday #whatsfordinnertonight
I’m thinking about making this luscious red pepp I’m thinking about making this luscious red pepper pesto pasta for dinner tonight! The sauce is a spin on romesco in the most delicious way. 🍝

The feta, tomato and kalamata olives take it to the next level! But the best part is that the sauce is so versatile for other uses like as the base of a pizza, as a spread inside a wrap or burger bun, or drizzled over a roasted chicken breast. 🍕🍔🍗And it only takes five minutes to blitz it up in a food processor! 💪

What are y’all whipping up for dinner tonight?

#romesco #pestopasta #pestosauce #roastedredpeppers #roastedredpepper #pastasalad #pastaporn #pastalovers #pastalove #mediterraneandiet #mediterraneanfood #mediterraneanlife #mealprepideas #mealpreps #mealpreprecipes #mealprepinspo #foodblogging #healthyrecipeshare #easyrecipes #simplerecipes #simplespoonfuls #frommykitchen #frommykitchentoyours #whatiatetoday #whaticooked #pastarecipes #pastaofinstagram #carbsarelife #carbsoncarbs
You know that lonely bag of Costco cauliflower ric You know that lonely bag of Costco cauliflower rice sitting in your freezer?  Look how beautifully it transforms with a super easy cooking method my personal chef friend @skusnic taught me!  There’s no defrosting, no squeezing out excess water, no babysitting on the stovetop.  Instead, you let the broiler do the work for you! 

The high heat dries out the riced cauliflower so it gets toasty instead of soggy.  Once it’s at your desired level of golden brown, pull it out and dress it up with whatever flavors you have on hand.

I like to make mine into a keto-friendly, gluten-free rice pilaf with toasty pinenuts, garlic and parsley, finished with a shower of Parmesan. Yummm!  Video to come soon!

#cauliflowerrice #cauliflowerrecipes #cauliflower #freezermeals #mealprepideas #mealprepping #mealpreppin #mealprepinspo #mealprepsundays #mealpreps #mealprepmondays #sidedish #sidedishes #easyrecipe #easyrecipesathome #simplespoonfuls #healthysides #healthyrecipes #healthyrecipesforfamilies #ricepilaf #ketorecipe #easyketorecipes #ketomeal #ketoadapted #foodblogger #foodphotographyandstyling #vegetarianmeals #vegetarianketo #vegetariandinner #vegetarianismo
I can’t tell you how excited I am to share this I can’t tell you how excited I am to share this dish with you! I was inspired by my friend Elena from @mamamiamangia__  and her beautiful Italian creations! 🇮🇹 

I’m not exactly sure what to name this recipe but it’s basically garlicky shrimp with white beans, sundried tomatoes and arugula. 🍤🍅🥬The flavor is amplified with lots of bright lemon zest and herby parsley. 🍋 A generous pinch of red pepper flakes brings just the right amount of heat without being spicy.  Best of all it’s gluten free and low carb.  It was so good we ate the leftovers tossed with linguine for dinner! Follow along in my stories to see it all come together!

I know I say this about all my recipes but you really should save this bad boy!  Not only does it taste like a million bucks, it looks like it too, and luckily its incredibly simple to make!

Mediterranean Shrimp and White Bean Arugula Salad

Half pound peeled and deveined shrimp (defrosted frozen is fine)
1/3 cup sundried toms, sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tbsp parsley, chopped 
Half can cannelini beans
 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
Pinch of Red pepper flakes
Sea salt and black pepper
2 tbsp Olive oil
Arugula

Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a non stick sauté pan over medium heat.  Add peeled and deveined shrimp and sprinkle lightly with sea salt and black pepper. Add the four cloves of minced garlic. After about 1-2 minutes flip the shrimp once they’ve turned pink on the bottom.  Then add the beans, sundried tomatoes, lemon zest and juice and red pepper flakes. Cook 1-2 more minutes until shrimp is fully cooked and then remove from the heat.  Add the fresh parsley and toss well. In a big bowl, lightly dress fresh arugula with extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and pepper.  Spoon shrimp mixture over the top and garnish with extra lemon! 

#mediterraneandiet #mediterraneanrecipes #italianrecipes #italianrecipe #healthyrecipes #healthyrecipe #saladporn #saladinspo #saladsofinstagram #pescatarianrecipes #pescatarianlife #seafoodrecipes #simplespoonfuls #shrimprecipes #italiansalad #eatwithyoureyes #sundriedtomatoes #eatpretty #frommykitchen #healthydinners #healthydinnerideas #easydinnerideas #easydinner #whatiatefordinner
Happy New Year everyone! 🥂I love seeing my top Happy New Year everyone! 🥂I love seeing my top 9 because to me it represents taking the first steps towards making my dreams come true.  I’m so proud of myself for putting my work out there despite the fact that I’m not at the level I want to be yet and I’m constantly fighting off the perfectionist little voice in my head.  Anyone else hear that voice?🙉

I love seeing the rainbow of color injected into my creations and it just makes me so.damn.happy. 🌈  I can’t wait to make 2021 MY year and to stop dreaming and start DOING! 💪🤘 I know it’s going to be a great year for you too!

I’m so thankful for each and everyone of you and I’m excited to show up for you every day! ❤️

Xoxo
Katie

#topnine2020 #topnine #topposts #foodblogger #foodbloggers #eattherainbow🌈 #eattherainbow #eatwithyoureyes #feastonthis #foodphotographyandstyling #foodphotography📷 #myrecipes #eatrealfood #jerf #simplespoonfuls #healthyrecipes #mealprepideas #buddhabowls
*Honey Coconut Chia Pudding with Blood Orange and *Honey Coconut Chia Pudding with Blood Orange and Pomegranate*

I was today years old when I discovered my love of chia pudding! 🙌 I’ve given it a few chances over the years but could never get the consistency just right and I couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about.  But I’m a sucker for a meal prep breakfast and was determined to figure this one out. 

Thankfully a fellow personal chef and longtime friend of mine @skusnic let me in on the secret of her ratios.  I still managed to botch her recipe because I can’t be bothered to follow a recipe to save my life (this is why I’m not a baker!) but it turned out fantastic nonetheless. 

I love how the bright winter citrus and tart pom seeds cut through the richness of the coconut. 🍊🥥And the honey adds just the right amount of sweetness to make you want to devour the whole batch! 🍯

🛑Make sure you hit the SAVE 👆🏻 button on this one!  I can’t wait to see how you customize it with your favorite flavors!

*Honey Coconut Chia Pudding with Blood Orange and Pomegranate*
2/3 can of coconut milk 
1/2 cup of milk of your choice (I used skim bc it’s what I had)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup chia seeds
1.5 tbsp honey or maple syrup
Pomegranate arils
Blood orange segments
Hemp hearts or flax seeds 

Combine coconut milk, milk, vanilla and chia seeds and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least six hours or over night.  Stir in honey and top with pomegranate seeds and orange segments. Top with hemp hearts or flax seeds (optional)

#chiapudding #chiaseedsbenefits #hemphearts #mealprepideas #breakfastmeal #mealpreps #mealprepsundays #makeaheadmeals #breakfasttime #vegetarianbreakfast #vegetarianrecipes #veganbreakfast #veganbreakfastideas #bloodoranges #bloodorange #pomegranateseeds #pomegranates #pomwonderful #hempheals #veganpudding #whatiateforbreakfast #whatiatetoday #mealprepinspo #mealpreping #mealprepmonday #mealprepmondays #breakfastinspo #getinmybelly😋 #eatwithyoureyes
Wishing you all the merriest Christmas! I’m so Wishing you all the merriest Christmas!  I’m so thankful for each and every one of you, especially this year.  During a time when we can’t be close to our loved ones, it makes me appreciate the connections I’ve made on here that much more!❤️❤️❤️ Love and joy to you all! 

Xoxo,
Katie
I don’t know about y’all but in our family, Ch I don’t know about y’all but in our family, Christmas breakfast is just as important as Christmas dinner!  Traditionally I make a strata because I can prep it all the night before and just pop it into the oven in the morning!  That way, I can enjoy our Christmas morning stress-free without fussing in the kitchen.

I’ve been making this bagels and lox strata for years and the flavor is out of this world!  Safe to say, it’s a family tradition.  I love using everything bagels for the extra flavor they bring to the table. Plus, you can’t go wrong with the flavors of smoked salmon, capers, and cream cheese. 

I throw a little spinach in the mix to amp up the green color and finish it off with fresh dill or chives for some extra herby goodness.  I think Chrissy Teigen has a similar recipe but this is my spin on things.

Everything Bagels and Lox Breakfast Strata
3 day old bagels cut into 3/4” cubes
5 eggs
1 3/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup grated parmesan
1 tsp dijon mustard
3/4 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 small shallot, minced
2 tbsp capers
6 oz smoked salmon or lox
2 cups spinach, torn
4 oz cream cheese
EBTB seasoning
Fresh dill

Combine the eggs, milk, parmesan, dijon, salt, pepper, shallot and dijon and mix until smooth.  Grease a medium sized casserole dish, scatter the bagel pieces around the dish and pour the egg mixture over the top.  Scatter the spinach pieces, lox, and capers and gently stir into the bagel and egg mix. Top with dollops of cream cheese and additional everything but the bagel seasoning.

Cover and place in the fridge for at least two hours, or ideally overnight. 
Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, like a cake, and not with raw eggs.

Top with the fresh dill and serve!

#strata #breakfastofchamps #christmasbreakfast #christmasmorning #makeaheadmeals #everythingbagel #ebtb #everythingbagelseasoning #easybreakfast #whatiateforbreakfast #whatsforbrunch #brunchgoals #brunchideas #brunching #christmasbrunch #christmasmeal #christmasrecipes #holidaybrunch #holidaymeals #holidayrecipes #holidayrecipe #foodblogger #mealpreps #mealprepideas #breakfastgoals #simplespoonfuls #foodstylingandphotography
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