Rinse the quinoa well under cold running water (you can skip this if the package tells you it's already rinsed).
Place the quinoa into a small saucepan with water and place over high heat.
Bring the water to a boil. Lower heat and cover. Allow to simmer, covered, until all of the water is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
Remove the pot from heat and allow to sit, covered, for 5 minutes.
Transfer the cooked quinoa to a medium bowl and allow it to cool completely.