Monday, March 19, 2012

Quinoa Upma


"A" aunty, our neighbor (yes we have an neighbor here in US who gets us food at times, isn't that awesome?) - came over with this Upma to our place. "Kinwa" - whats that I asked ? Then she spelled it out - Quinoa . She said it was one of the healthiest whole grains with high protein content, that doesn't spike the blood sugar levels. She is 70, looks 60 and is active like a 40 year old. Well if she eats it and says it is good for you - has to be! I bought a packet of this from the local grocery store and have been experimenting since... It is slightly tough to chew, and has a different tast to it, but takes on the flavors of the spices pretty well. I used it in place of Suji or Rava here to make upma... You can use it as a rice substitute too! So go ahead and try this unique cereal/grain and let me know how you like it. If you have any recipes using Quinoa, let me know and I will be happy to try them!


Ingredients

2/3 cup Quinoa
1 small Onion - finely chopped
1 carrot- diced
10-12 green beans cut into small pieces
1 boiled potato - diced
1/2 inch of ginger - grated

handful of peanuts
1-2 green chillies

1 tea spoon of mustard seeds
1 tea spoon of cumin seeds
1 tea spoon of urad dal
1 tea spoon of channa dal
1 table spoon of cooking oil
fresh curry leaves a bunch
Salt to taste


How to

Bring 1 and 1/2 cups of water to a boil, add salt and quinoa. Let it simmer covered in a pan for 15-18 mins. When completely cooked, fluff with a fork and set aside.

In a separate pan, heat oil, splutter mustard and cumin seeds. Add green chillies and curry leaves and peanuts and urad dal and channa dal and stir.

Add the chopped onions and saute for a couple of minutes. Add the rest of the vegetables (carrots and beans) and some salt, cook it covered for a few minutes. Once the vegetables are cooked, add grated ginger and the diced boiled potatoes and mix well.

When the vegetables are completely cooked add the boiled quinoa. Check for salt and mix well.

Let it stand on low flame for about 2 minutes. Turn off the stove and eat it warm. Squeeze half a lemon - will taste great too. Else sprinkle some coriander leaves. Make it yours!



Enjoy! I like mine with a little bit of coriander chutney !


    34 comments:

    1. Another delicious way to eat quinoa..

      ReplyDelete
    2. I got to know about this wonder seeds through blogs. want to try it eversince. this looks wonderful somoo. perfect balance of western ingredients with eastern spices.

      ReplyDelete
    3. Haven't tried quinoa yet. .. the upma looks delicious almost like dalia ka upma. And love that mat. Is it a moshona/sopo?

      ReplyDelete
    4. @Hema - yes. let me know if you have any others.
      @Sayantani - it looks and tastes a lot like our upma.
      @Swathi , @Aarthu, @Shanthi - thanks
      @Sharmila - thanks. It is a table mat, just like the sapa. My Oriya friend had got it from Thailand. It is so ethnic....

      ReplyDelete
    5. wow such a healthy delight, yet to try out this quinoa

      ReplyDelete
    6. Yet to experiment with quinoa..upma looks healthy..

      ReplyDelete
    7. Upma is a good option to start with Quinoa. Since you asked, I have many recipes on both my blogs if you are interested in other ideas.

      ReplyDelete
    8. The clicks make me drool here.loved the colour of upma looks tatsy too.......
      MAha

      ReplyDelete
    9. I haven't tried yet with this quinoa though it is easily available for us. This one is a fusion !

      ReplyDelete
    10. @Jeya p let me know if you try...
      @Ramya- it is healthy, hence tried it...
      @ET - checked out your site for Quinoa stuff, will try the salad for sure... Yumm!
      @Maha - thanks... thats the color of quinoa, isnt it so earthy ?
      @Cham - yep fusion! Taught by 70 yr old aunty! She is impressive...

      ReplyDelete
    11. I want to try quinoa sometimes soon. Loving this fusion recipe

      ReplyDelete
    12. I have never tried quinoa in my life....this might have tasted yum.....

      ReplyDelete
    13. hello Sweets, welcome to quinoa world. How did you like it? How are you doing?

      ReplyDelete
    14. @Miriam - thanks...
      @Namtha- try it...
      @Lubna - yes it is nice...
      @Vijitha - yeah I like it... I am doing good. thanks...

      ReplyDelete
    15. Interesting use of quinoa..I have some in my pantry that I had bought on instinct but does not taste as good - will try your recipe. Thanks for sharing!

      ReplyDelete
    16. @Pragyan - spice your quinoa upma and I think you will like it... Let me know how you like it!

      ReplyDelete
    17. A very delicious and healthy way to eat quinoa. Yum!

      ReplyDelete
    18. I have never tried quinoa, but this dish looks v simple and lovely.

      ReplyDelete
    19. @Kanchan - thanks... Glad you like it... let me know if you try it.

      ReplyDelete
    20. Very healthy.. I never tasted Quinoa so far...I should and I will!

      ReplyDelete
    21. @Shri - yes very healthy! Let me know if you like it...

      ReplyDelete
    22. I have been cooking Quinoa in my kitchen for about 2 months.
      I have tried Quinoa Pulao, with Lentils, Spinich, Fish, Chicken on and on.
      I love serving Quinoa Pulao with spicy Raita. Please try youtube channel and
      search for thecheflucianochannel. I am new to this blog.

      ReplyDelete
    23. What quinoa is calle in hindi and oriya please some one reply
      Thanks in advance.

      ReplyDelete
    24. Is it dalia or what? Please provide its odiya synonymm for orissa

      ReplyDelete
    25. Nice article, thank you for sharing wonderful information. I am happy to found your blog on the internet.
      You can also check our page on the same topic - Quinoa In Hindi

      ReplyDelete