Quinoa Upma

I'm a person who is not open to all types of cuisines and  tastes.  I do not buy an ingredient that is new to me and do not cook a new food unless and until I have tasted it elsewhere.  Quinoa is one such grain that I had heard a few years ago.  I did not have the courage to buy and prepare it unless I have tried it.  Recently I tried it and it seemed to taste good and only a few months back did I know the nutritional goodness of Quinoa.

This quinoa upma is just like any other upma  and easy to make too.

Ingredients :

1 cup quinoa

1 onion chopped

2 - 3 green chillies slit

1 carrot chopped

1/2 cup green peas

1 capsicum chopped

small piece of ginger minced or chopped finely

few curry leaves

juice of a lemon

pinch of asafoetida

1/2 tsp. turmeric powder

salt to taste

1 tbsp. oil

coriander leaves chopped for garnishing.

For the tadka :

1 handful groundnuts

1/2 tsp. mustard seeds

1/2 tsp. urad dal

1/2 tsp. jeera

Method :

1.  Soak the quinoa in water for 15 - 30 minutes.  ( this helps in removal of saponin content which is bitter in taste and toxic ).  Rinse well and pressure cook with 1 : 1.5 water or cook as per packet instruction.  Once the cooked quinoa is cooled, fluff it up with a fork.

2.  In a kadai, heat oil, add groundnuts and fry till golden pink and remove.  In the same oil add mustard seeds and after they splutter, add urad dal and fry till pink and then add jeera.

3.  Once the seasonings are fried, add asafoetida and turmeric powder and then ginger, green chillies, curry leaves and onion and saute till the onion turns transluscent.  Add  the other vegetables like carrot, peas and capsicum ( french beans, cauliflower florets, broccoli, potatoes can also be added ), salt and mix well.  Cover and cook for a few minutes till the vegetables are cooked.

4.  Once all the vegetables are cooked, remove from heat and mix in the cooked quinoa, fried groundnuts and lime juice and mix everything well.  Garnish with lots of coriander leaves and serve with pickle or coconut chutney. ( You can add salt to the quinoa at the time of mixing if required )

Krishnaarpanam