QUINOA VEGETABLE UPMA
My mother always playfully comments about my 'mozha neela naakku'. 'Mozham' is a Tamil unit of measurement used to measure the length of a flower garland or the length of a dothi. 'Naakku' 'means tongue. A measurement taken from the tip of the middle finger up to the elbow is termed as one 'mozham'. 'Mozha neela nakku' means a tongue as long as a 'mozham'! Please, please! Pause for a moment before your imagination starts running amok ! Foodies who have sensitive taste buds and who love to indulge in spicy and tangy food are supposed to have 'mozha neela naakku' ! Such people tend to convert any and every given ingredient into a delicious dish appealing to their 'naakku'.
That is what I did when I found Quinoa - a novel ingredient for me - in my daughter-in-law's pantry.
When ever I tried to South 'Indianise' an ingredient, at times it turned out quite good. And at other times it ended up as a big mess! My poor son and daughter-in-law had to bear all my experiments patiently! They did, and also encouraged me in my endless innovations!
Luckily Quinoa Vegetable Upma turned out to be a big hit !
INGREDIENTS
Quinoa - 1 cup
Oil - 1 tsp
TO PREPARE THE QUINOA
Add two cups of water and oil to the Quinoa and cook on low flame stirring occasionally till all the water is absorbed.
INGREDIENTS TO PREPARE THE VEGETABLES
Oil - 2 tbsps
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Split black gram dal - 1/4 tsp
Bengal gram dal - 1/4 tsp
Chopped green chillies - 1/2 tsp
Chopped fresh ginger - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - a few
Turmeric powder - 1 pinch
Onion ( chopped ) - 1/4 cup
Chopped carrots, beans, cabbage - 2 cups
Salt - 1 tsp
Juice of one lime
Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing.
TO PREPARE THE UPMA
1. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.
2. Add black gram dal and Bengal gram dal and fry till they become golden in colour.
3. Add onion, green chillies, ginger and curry leaves and saute till the onion becomes pink in colour.
4. Add turmeric powder followed by the rest of the vegetables.
5. Cover and cook till the vegetables are almost done and add salt.
6. Fluff up the already cooked Quinoa.
7. Add to the vegetables.
7. Stir and blend well.
8. Mix in the lime juice.
9. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
Relish the Quinoa Vegetable Upma with a cup of yogurt or any chutney of your choice.
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