Category: Grains

Asian flavoured Quinoa

Grains, Uncategorized

I was bored of salads , rice and roti. I wanted to make something in 10 minutes and get out of the kitchen in the heat and bored of cooking everyday twice a day during this lockdown and other multiple munchies ! So I used up all the sauces in my pantry and the only 2 vegetables left in my fridge and whipped this up. To my surprise it did indeed taste well.

Need –

  • Quinoa – 1 cup – cooked
  • Carrot – 1/2 – peeled into ribbons or cut into strips
  • Capsicum – 1 – strips
  • Corn- 1 small cup
  • Water – 4 tbsp
  • Peanut butter – 1 tsp
  • Soy sauce – 1 tsp
  • Chilli sauce – 1 tsp
  • ACV – 1/2 tsp
  • Pepper powder- 1 tsp ( adjust according to your spice tolerance )
  • Salt

Process –

  • In a pan sauté the vegetables with little oil till they are tender. Add quinoa and mix. Add salt and pepper.
  • Mix the wet ingredients with water and pour in the quinoa and give a quick mix.
  • Keep a little longer if you need crispy quinoa in the bottom.
  • Feel free to add onions , broccoli or other vegetables.

Millet Dalia Khichdi.

Grains

Khichdi is comfort food of India. The preparation is the same but the additions and flavours vary across. Its ven pongal in south and khichdi in north. It is basically rice and lentil that is so easy on stomach and helps to digest specially when you are down with fever. Broken wheat(dalia) is good for people who like less sugar conversion from food as it takes time to break down and keeps you full for long. While millets have been a primary source of food in many interior parts of India and people have been eating it for ages where rice cannot be grown , it is now making a come back under the famous tag “healthy”. While we enjoy couscous , quinoa and the likes let us also stick to our staple food .

Need –

  • Millet (Foxtail ) – 1 cup
  • Dalia / Broken wheat – 1 cup
  • Yellow moong – 1/2 cup
  • Chopped – tomato – 1
  • Chopped – carrot
  • Ghee – 3 tbsp
  • Jeera – 2 tsp
  • Green chilli – 1
  • Crushed pepper – 1 tsp
  • Turmeric – 1 tsp
  • Sambar powder / garam masala – 1 tsp
  • salt
  • Ginger – chopped – 1 tsp
  • Water – 5 cups

Process –

  • In a pan dry roast the millet and dalia and the moong.
  • Soak the millet and dalia while you prepare the rest.
  • In a pressure cooker , add 1 tbsp ghee, temper jeera, chilli , ginger and pepper.
  • Add the chopped tomato and cook till its mushy.
  • Add the carrot. You may choose to add more vegetable if its for a simple dinner- like peas , cabbage, potato , onion or turnip or even spinach
  • Now add the dalia and millet + moong. Add salt, turmeric and the masala.
  • Add the water , give a mix and cook for 4 whistles or till its cooked and mushy.

Sabudhana Kichdi

Grains

Sabudhana is tapioca pearls. Tapioca is also called cassava. Sabudhana is a favourite of Indians and mostly consumed when people fast. When one fasts (specially during Navaratri), you are allowed to consume only certain items and abstain from a whole lot of food items you normally consume. Sabudhana is starchy hence helps you keep full and when combined with peanuts and potato you get the energy throughout the day. Using rock salt is recommended during this time as it helps maintain the body balance.

Husband finds beer a best combo for this while traditionally its always had with curd.

Need –

  • Sabudhana / Tapioca pearls – 1/2 kg
  • Potato – 1 large – chopped
  • Peanuts – 1 cup – roasted
  • Jeera – 1 tbsp
  • Ghee – 2 tbsp
  • Green Chilli – 2 – chopped
  • Amchur – 1 tsp (avoid during fasting)
  • Lemon Juice – 2 tsp
  • Coriander – chopped – handful
  • Curry leaves – 6
  • Rock Salt /sendha namak

Process –

  • Wash and soak the sabudhana for minimum 2 hours . When done it can smash it in your fingers. Drain in a colander till all the water is drained and you can see the pearls separately.
  • In a pan take 1 tbp of ghee , temper jeera ,torn curry leaves and add chilli. Add the diced potatoes and amchur. Sprinkle water to cook, cover till potatoes are cooked and browned. Alternatively , cook the potatoes in microwave for 2 min to quicken the process.
  • Meanwhile , roast the peanuts and grind them coarsely so you get the bites. I leave the skin on. You can choose to grind the chillies along.
  • When the potatoes are done , add half peanuts and the sabudhana , salt and give it a good mix. Keep stirring twice or thrice in between
  • The pearls will become translucent when throughly cooked. Add the remaining peanuts , coriander and lemon juice and give a good mix.
  • Serve with curd.