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"Quinoa is super trendy right now, but it&amp;#039;s probably sticking around for the long haul, so you need to know what to do with it! Why is quinoa so popular? It is a complete protein and gluten-free, so it&amp;#039;s great if you&amp;#039;re trying to cut gluten, go Paleo or vegetarian, or just want to add an interesting grain to your diet (though it&amp;#039;s technically a seed!). So, how do you make quinoa? It&amp;#039;s about as simple as making rice, but there are a few extra steps. Even if your bag of quinoa says it&amp;#039;s pre-rinsed, you&amp;#039;re going to want to rinse that stuff, otherwise it will taste bitter after it&amp;#039;s cooked. Here are some quinoa cooking basics:  Many directions say to use 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water, but it might be better to use a little less water so the quinoa is less mushy when it&amp;#039;s done cooking. 1 part quinoa to 1 \u00BD or 1 \u00BE parts water should do it. Adjust to your preference!  Place quinoa in a fine mesh strainer then rinse under running water for 2\u20134 minutes, constantly rubbing the quinoa in the water with your hands. The more rinsing you do, the better!  Let quinoa sit in the strainer for about 20 minutes, tossing it around every once in a while, to dry.  Over medium heat in a large pot, toast the quinoa with just a swig of olive oil for 1\u20132 minutes, to help dry it out a little more.  Add water and a few pinches of salt, raise heat to high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover and lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Just like rice, don&amp;#039;t lift the lid during cooking!  After 15 minutes, remove pot from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff and serve! Or, better yet, use your quinoa in one of these amazing savory and sweet recipes!  The Sweet Side of Quinoa 1. Coconut Quinoa Bites  These little quinoa bites are stuffed with raspberry cheesecake and then covered in dark chocolate glaze. &amp;#039;Nuf said. Get the recipe from Food Faith Fitness. 2. Quinoa Energy Bars  Throw quinoa into an energy bar for an extra pop of protein when you need the boost! Get the recipe from Savory Simple 3. Sweet Potato Pie With Maple Quinoa Crust  This maple quinoa crust adds delicious crunch to sweet potato pie. Get the recipe from Nosh and Nourish 4. Quinoa Pudding  Quinoa pudding with a bit of maple and cinnamon flavor is perfect for breakfast or dessert! Get the recipe from Heather&amp;#039;s French Press 5. Quinoa Chocolate Chunk Cookies  This chocolate chip cookie is good(er) for you. Just go with it. Get the recipe from I Heart Eating  6. Quinoa Breakfast Bake  A wholesome breakfast with bananas and chocolate is just what you need to get your day going. Because chocolate for breakfast. Get the recipe from Jeanette&amp;#039;s Healthy Living  7. Chocolate Strawberry Bowl  It&amp;#039;s basically a chocolate-covered strawberry, only with healthy, protein-packed quinoa. So awesome. Get the recipe from Wonky Wonderful 8. Quinoa Pancakes  These pancakes are a great way to start your day with protein, and they are even better drizzled in Meyer lemon syrup. Get the recipe from My Life Runs On Food 9. Quinoa Granola  Granola is a perfect place to put your quinoa, especially with chocolate chips and toasted coconut joining the party. Get the recipe from Beard and Bonnet 10. Banana Nut Quinoa Muffins  You&amp;#039;ll never make banana nut muffins without quinoa once you try this recipe. Get the recipe from Fannetastic Food Quinoa&amp;#039;s Savory Side 11. Spinach Salad With Quinoa and Fruit  This salad isn&amp;#039;t just a pretty face; it&amp;#039;s delicious too! Get the recipe from Petit Elefant 12. Quinoa Burrito Bowl  Burrito bowls are always a great quick and easy dinner option, and this version using quinoa packs a healthier punch than using rice. Get the recipe from Like Mother Like Daughter 13. Quinoa Skillet  Kale and quinoa in the same skillet? Talk about trendy. Also, talk about delicious, especially with roasted sweet potatoes. Get the recipe from With Food and Love 14. Lots o&amp;#039; Grains Salad  This salad is filled with all kinds of wonderful grains and is incredibly delicious, despite how simple it is to prepare. Get the recipe from This Week for Dinner 15. Quinoa Patties  These patties made from red quinoa make for a great veggie burger, but they are just as good served straight-up with totally awesome mango black bean salsa. Get the recipe from An Edible Mosaic 16. Easy Pesto Asparagus Quinoa  Don&amp;#039;t let the word casserole fool you; this super modern, super easy dinner will be your new favorite way to eat quinoa. Or pesto. Or asparagus. Get the recipe from Oh, Sweet Basil 17. Vegan Bolognese  Thanks to lentils and quinoa, this hearty Bolognese sauce is filling, delicious, and vegan. Get the recipe from Rachel Cooks  18. Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers  If rice is good for stuffed bell peppers, you better believe quinoa is too! Get the recipe from Tried and Tasty  19. Broccoli Quinoa Quesadillas  Quesadillas are always a great go-to meal \u2014 kick up the health and taste factor with some broccoli and quinoa! Get the recipe from Oh My Veggies 20. Quinoa Fried &amp;quot;Rice&amp;quot;  This pork-fried quinoa will have you forgetting fried rice ever existed. Get the recipe from Queen of Quinoa Jane Maynard is a food blogger at This Week for Dinner and Babble, a writer and designer, and a lover of all things chocolate. Follow Jane on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. RELATED: Make 5 (Delicious) Dinners for Two for Only $50 10 Surprisingly Delicious Ways to Use Ranch Tonight 12 Deliciously Easy Ways to Make Risotto "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.cosmopolitan.com/food-cocktails/a6326/quinoa-recipes/>