Quinoa is quite in trend, you know. Strange. It was first cultivated in ancient civilizations, like the Inca. So, you can understand its origin dates back to 4000 years. And I never tried it first-hand. How silly of me! It’s my sister who brought this ingredient home. And, I thought of giving this seed an Indian touch. Let it be indigenous to South America; nobody can fasten foods in boundaries. Thus, came up with this vegetable quinoa pulao recipe. It’s tasty, gluten-free, and protein-enriched. So, if you are following any diet chart for your weight loss program, you may give it a shot blindfolded.
Let’s see how you too can make the Vegetable Quinoa Pulao.
Ingredients:
Quinoa – 2 Cups
Spinach – ½ Cup (shredded)
Onion – 1 No. (sliced)
Carrot – 1 No. (small cube)
Button mushroom – 6 Nos. (roughly chopped)
French beans – 6 Nos. (roughly chopped)
Green chilies – 2 Nos. (slit)
Ghee (clarified butter) / Oil – 1 Tablespoon
Hing (Asafoetida) – ¼ Teaspoon
Cumin seeds – ¼ Teaspoon
Curry leaves – 1 strand (optional)
Red chili powder – ½ Teaspoon
Turmeric – ½ Teaspoon
Coriander powder – ½ Teaspoon
Garam masala powder – ½ Teaspoon
Lemon juice – 1 Teaspoon
Salt – To taste
Vegetable stock – 4 cups
Procedure:
Soak the quinoa for an hour beforehand. Drain out the water completely.
Now heat Ghee / Oil in the pot where you want to make your pulao.
Add cumin seeds, asafetida, and curry leaves. Let these sputter.
Add the onions. Sauté until it becomes slightly golden.
Now add all the veggies, carrots, French beans, and mushrooms, and if you have some other preferences you may add that too. Stir for 2 – 3 minutes on high flame.
Then add the quinoa and mix well.
Now add red chili powder, turmeric powder, and garam masala powder.
Mix well.
Add the shredded spinach.
Add salt too.
Now add the vegetable stock.
Keep the flame on high. Let it reach the boiling point.
Then simmer the flame and lid it.
Let the quinoa be done completely.
Add lemon juice.
Serve hot.
Nutritional Value of 100 g cooked Quinoa
| Calories | 120 Cal |
| Protein | 4.4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 21.3 g |
| Sugar | 0.9 g |
| Fiber | 2.8 g |
| Fat | 1.9 g |
Conclusion:
Quinoa has a different segment of fan following. Though it’s considered a cereal, it actually is a seed. Yes, it’s true. It’s crunchy and nutty. People find it a bit of bitter-tasting. But that’s okay. Regular quinoa eaters find this bitterness even nonexistent. Try Quinoa Pulao at home. I am sure you would love it.
Read other Recipes here.