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Quinoa. It’s everywhere – in salads, in stews, even in meatballs. But did you know that you can freeze quinoa? The next time you whip up a pot of the healthy grain, go a little overboard and make a triple, or even a quadruple, batch. Defrost it in the microwave and use it however you please. Easy as pie…well, or quinoa.
Share your recipes:
I know that many of you are have all sorts of quinoa recipe stored away in your recipe boxes (wait, do people actually use recipe boxes anymore?), and I would love it if you could share them!
Link-up your favorite quinoa recipes (there’s no limit on how many you can share) near the bottom of this post, right where it says “Link up your quinoa recipes here”…you can’t miss it. At the end of the week, I’ll pick my five favorites and feature them in my Sunday post.
If you don’t have a blog, feel free to share your quinoa recipes in the comment section.
How to do it:
Cook the quinoa:
And since you’re freezing, be sure to cook extra! In a medium to large saucepan (depending on how much quinoa you’re cooking), combine one part quinoa with two parts water.
Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook until all of the water is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Fluff the quinoa with a fork.
Let it cool:
Transfer the cooked quinoa to a large baking sheet (or two) and spread the cooked grain out evenly. Let it cool to room temperature.
Measure and bag it:
Measure the quinoa into the desired amounts and scoop into resealable plastic bags. I typically use the sandwich-sized Ziploc bags, which hold 2 cups of cooked quinoa.
Let out the air:
Squeeze all of the air out of the bags and seal them. Place the small Ziploc bags into larger freezer-proof Ziploc bags.
To defrost:
Take one or more bags out of the freezer and allow the quinoa to defrost at room temperature. Alternatively, dump the quinoa into a bowl (you may have to cut the Ziploc bag open with scissors to get the quinoa out) and cook it in the microwave for one minute. You’re ready to go!
My favorite quinoa recipes:
Baked Turkey, Quinoa & Zucchini Meatballs in Lettuce Wraps
Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas, Kalamata Olives & Mint
Vegetarian Stew with Quinoa, Butternut Squash & Coconut Milk
Hearty Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash & Quinoa
Salad Cups with Quinoa, Shrimp, Avocado & Lemon Dressing
Black Quinoa Salad with Orange & Cumin Dressing
Link Up Your Quinoa Recipes Here (as many as you like):
From the kitchen of Cookin Canuck. www.cookincanuck.com
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa (or more)
- 2 cups water (or more)
- *The ratio of water to quinoa is 2 to 1.
- Baking sheet(s)
- Small Ziploc bags
- Large freezer Ziploc bags
Instructions
- In a medium to large saucepan (depending on how much quinoa you’re cooking), combine one part quinoa with two parts water.
- Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook until all of the water is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Fluff the quinoa with a fork.
- Transfer the cooked quinoa to a large baking sheet (or two) and spread the cooked grain out evenly. Let it cool to room temperature.
- Measure the quinoa into the desired amounts and scoop into resealable plastic bags. I typically use the sandwich-sized Ziploc bags, which hold 2 cups of cooked quinoa.
- Squeeze all of the air out of the bags and seal them. Place the small Ziploc bags into larger freezer-proof Ziploc bags.
- To defrost, take one or more bags out of the freezer and allow the quinoa to defrost at room temperature. Alternatively, dump the quinoa into a bowl (you may have to cut the Ziploc bag open with scissors to get the quinoa out) and cook it in the microwave for one minute.
Notes
Calories 127 / Total Fat 2g / Saturated Fat 0g / Cholesterol 0mg / Sodium 10mg / Total Carbohydrates 23.4g / Fiber 2g / Sugars 0g / Protein 4.5g / WW (Old Points) 2 / WW (Points+) 3
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{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
Why haven’t I ever thought to freeze quinoa? Brilliant!
It was a revelation for me, too. It makes quick dinners that much easier.
You’re going to laugh when you see my post Wednesday. It’s not freezing quinoa but it’s similar.
This is a great tip!! I honestly don’t freeze quinoa and I should!!
I always look forward to seeing your posts, Liz!
Love this, Dara! I just ordered a big bag of quinoa last week…I’m almost out. I love the idea of freezing it!
Cassie, I wish I had known about this years ago. Now there will be no stopping me!
Thank you so much for this! I just bought quinoa for the first time and I wasn’t entirely sure what to do with it. Great ideas, and now I know I can just cook the entire bag and freeze it.
It sounds like both you and I are going to have a freezer-full of quinoa!
Such a genius idea Dara! I’m new to the quinoa scene but now that I know I can freeze it… I’ll be turning out quinoa left and right!
You’re going to love quinoa, Laurie. It’s such a versatile little grain.
I don’t cook with quinoa nearly enough. But I did just post a recipe last Friday – perfect timing!! And I can imagine I’d eat a lot more if it was already prepared – love this!
I loved that recipe of yours, Deb. Thanks for linking it up!
I love quinoa and I’m so glad my guys do too:)
It’s popular in our house, too, and that makes me very, very happy.
I always,make a whole box/bag of quinoa when I cook it and freeze the rest. Love this trick. Will link up some recipes later when I’m on my computer
Perfect! I can’t wait to see what you share, Rachel.
I like to add it to scrambled eggs with spinach & other veggies….so have been freezing quinoa to decrease prep time. It is so handy to have it pre-prepared in the freezer!
What a great idea to add it to scrambled eggs. I’ll have to try that next time.
love quinoa and am so excited for this round-up!
Me too, Elizabeth. It’s always fun to see what people share.
That photo is SOOOOO creative!! LOVE THIS POST!! How the heck did you get the quinoa to stay in place? LOL
I had no idea you could freeze it! I cant wait to do this! I love the “QUINOA” you made. So cute (and again, time well spent!!), thanks for the link-up! Very fun!!
What a brilliant idea!
How long did it take you to spell out quinoa?
Great tip on freezing!
Genius idea Dara! I’m sad I don’t have a link up to offer, boo hoo! Gotta get me some quinoa!
Great idea, Dara!
I’ve shared this link with my friend Jenny who is the Queen of Quinoa. I still think they look like unfurled prophylactics when cooked and I’ll choose a different grain to try out the recipes.
Thanks!
You’re probably going to change the “no limit” rule because of me.
Wow. SUCH a great idea – it is a bit of a pain to make – so this will encourage me to eat more quinoa. Brilliant photos/graphics, too!
I love this!!!
Dara, I just got some new quinoa and will do this tomorrow with my brown rice! I am SO excited try these amazing recipes – what a resource! I admit to being a little under-creative with what to do with quinoa but no more. Thanks!
Great idea Dara. Thought I would pass a tip on to you.
To Freeze items in ziplock bags. Put items in ziploc bag, press all the air out
And squeeze all the contents in the bag to make
The bag flat, dry each bag . Label with sharpie whats in the bag aling with the date. Lay each bag on a cookie sheet, you can stack them
If you need to. And then freeze. When the bags are frozen
You are able to stack them in your freezer. This is also good
For quick thawing.
ok so I don’t have a blog, but I love your recipes
One of my most loved quinoa recipes is “quinoa and black beans”. It is quick, versatile, delicious and most importantly family approved. Can be used as a side dish or all on its own. The recipe comes from here http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Quinoa-and-Black-Beans/
Such a great idea! Love this link up–seeing lots of great quinoa recipes. I linked up as well:)
Quinoa Pesto and Goat Cheese Patties
This is kind of a clean out your fridge type recipe – measures are very approximate. Add more or less to your taste and omit or add as you see fit.
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa cooked – or whatever is left over
1 egg or The Vegg egg yolk substitute or 1 tbsp flax and 3 tbsp water
1 – 2 tbsp pesto any kind, I love basil and also sundried tomato
1 – 2 tbsp goat cheese or feta cheese crumbled
Any mixed cooked veg you have on hand chopped, roasted red peppers from a jar are good too.
Cherry tomatoes quarted
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Mix it all together in a bowl until it holds together.
Make golf ball sized patties and flatten. Fry in a pan with a bit of oil until cripy and brown on both sides. Serve warm with a salad or cool and freeze for another lunch. Thaw on counter for a couple of hours or microwave to use.
Options: add curry spice, rasins, chopped olives, green chilies, garlic, herbs etc to make it to your own taste. I also sometimes use italian salad dressing in blace of the pesto.
I just read that quinoa is freezable in one of my food mags this month. Thanks for the reminder. This will make healthy weekday meals so much easier!
This is such a great idea. A perfect way to encourage me to use more quinoa.
Such a great idea Dara!
I need to do this — it makes consuming quinoa so much more easier and faster
Great tips darlin’!
wow, this is so very useful. I am so going to use it, It will be handy for time crunches. Thanks and I am going to go over your quinoa recipes too
What an awesome useful post Dara. I did not know I could freeze quinoa. I would use it so much more if all I had to do was pull it out if the freezer. Love the collection of recipes too! YUM
What a fantastic idea! I’ve never thought of freezing quinoa but it should would be a time savor on those busy nights. Love the poster board with quinoa on it- how did you get it to stay so nice?:)