How to Make Homemade Quinoa Flour

Why spend time and money sourcing quinoa flour when it is super simple to make at home with just one ingredient? Quinoa flour is a gluten-free alternative to regular flour and can be used in many recipes, from breads and cookies to pancakes and muffins. Several recipes for quinoa flour involve sprouting and dehydrating the grain, but who has the time? This method is quick and easy and yields perfect quinoa flour every time. Let’s look at how to make it.

What is Quinoa Flour?

Ground from whole grain quinoa, quinoa flour (pronounced keen-wa) is ideal for baked goods, offering a tender, moist crumb. Originally an ancient South American grain, quinoa had a pretty recent global recognition as a “superfood” for its impressive nutritional value. Nowadays, it is embraced as a speciality food by the health-conscious. Quinoa technically is not a grain; it’s what we call a “pseudograin” because it is used the same way as other grains. Dating back 7,000 years to the Andes, the Incas considered quinoa sacred as “the mother grain,” Pretty impressive!

Benefits of Using Quinoa Flour

Ideal for individuals following a gluten-free diet, quinoa is also a natural source of dietary fiber that supports digestion and aids in managing blood sugar levels. With twice the protein and approximately 5 grams more fiber than white rice per cup, quinoa offers a healthier alternative with lower calories and carbohydrates. Despite lacking gluten, quinoa flour effectively thickens soups and sauces because of its fiber and protein composition, making it healthy and great for all kinds of recipes! 

Ingredients and Equipment Needed to Make Quinoa Flour

You don’t need much to make your own quinoa flour at home. You just need a stovetop, a skillet or pan, a blender or food processor, and a sieve—stuff you probably already have!

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Quinoa Flour at Home

Ingredients: 

1 cup white quinoa

Method:

Step 1: Toast the quinoa in a dry pan on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it turns a light brown and smells toasty.

Step 2: Pop the toasted quinoa into a grinder, blender, or strong food processor and blend on high.

Step 3: Grind the quinoa until it’s mostly powder. Depending on your blender, this can take time. Mine took 5 minutes.

Step 4: Sift the powder through a sieve to remove any large bits of quinoa. If there are many, you can pop them back into the grinder and blend for another 4 to 5 minutes. 

Tips for Perfect Homemade Quinoa Flour

• Don’t skip the toasting part. Not only does it make it easier to grind, but it also removes much of the bitterness associated with quinoa and makes the flour taste better.
• Don’t skip the sifting unless you want chunky quinoa grains in your baked goods. 

How to Store Quinoa Flour

Quinoa flour is best stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It can also be stored in the pantry, but it won’t last as long, especially if you live in a humid environment.

Common Uses for Quinoa Flour in Recipes

Quinoa flour is incredibly versatile. It can be incorporated into soft baked goods such as bread and pastries or even used to make meatballs. It is often combined in a 15—to 20% ratio with wheat flour for desserts, breads, biscuits, and pancakes. The only thing is it has a distinct taste compared to all-purpose flour and pairs well with recipes containing bold flavors such as cocoa powder and warming spices. In other words, it stands out!

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