Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Minty Quinoa


           I have been neglecting my blog for more than a week now, my parents and sisters had come over, lots of cooking but couldn't find time to check on my blog. Well, today's recipe is yet another simple and healthy preparation with quinoa (I have a packet with me that I had brought with me from the US). But for those who can't find quinoa, you can do the same with couscous too, also the other day I found a packet of quinoa (of course imported one ) at Nilgiris in Chennai. Now coming back to the dish, it gets its flavor from the mint leaves and tastes great with any raitha or plain yogurt too..

Need To Have
  • Quinoa - 1 cup
  • Mint Leaves - 2 cups
  • Potato - 1 medium cubed
  • Capsicum - 1 small chopped
  • Tomato - 1 chopped
  • Green Chillies - 2 
  • Chopped Ginger - 1 teaspoon
  • Cloves - 2
  • Cinnamon - 1" piece


Method
          Cook the quinoa as per the instructions on the packet and cool it. Grind the green chillies and ginger. Also grind the mint leaves coarsely without adding water. Heat some oil, add the cinnamon and cloves, once the cloves start spluttering, add the potatoes, saute for about 5 minutes, then add the chilli-ginger paste, saute for another 2 minutes. Now add the capsicum, keep mixing for another 3 minutes, add the coarsely ground mint leaves, salt, saute for another 5 minutes. Then add the chopped tomatoes, mix, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Switch off, allow it to cool down, then mix in the cooked quinoa.
Sending it to Zesty South Indian Kitchen for the Hearth And Soul Blog Hop event.

Note
You can mix in the quinoa when the minty potato mix is still hot, but you should take care not to make it mushy, try to fold it in gently, leave it for some time like in the case of briyanis, then serve it.
Also, though it might look sticky, as it cools down, it actually becomes dry.
Do not overcook the quinoa.
Can also add some cooked peas or chickpeas.
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30 comments:

  1. I love quinoa with mint. It is very delicious and adds a lot of flavor to the quinoa.

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  2. very interesting recipe..love this healthy quinoa!!

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  3. Healthy recipe,love mint flavor,will surely try this.

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  4. Healthy dish
    www.cookingatmayflower.blogspot.com

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  5. I can't believe I have not tried quinoa yet. This looks SO good, I need to go out and buy some right away!

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  6. Delicious quinoa recipe, Hema. Love it. I like your bowl .

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  7. Delicious and healthy recipe...:)

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  8. Looks tangy and healthy too ;-)
    Nice recipe Hema !!!

    shrutirasoi

    Today's Recipe
    Kesar Kulfi

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  9. Healthy and seriously inviting quinoa, love the addition of mint here.

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  10. Well made & very colorful

    http://shwetainthekitchen.blogspot.com

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  11. Real aromatic.... Yum !!!
    http://recipe-excavator.blogspot.com

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  12. Healthy, flavourful recipe..liked the addition of mint...

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  13. This sounds very new and quite interesting too. Love the bowl

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  14. wow very healthy recipe,luks tempting...

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  15. Nice healthy one! we can call this as quinoa upma!

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  16. WE LOVE Quinoa at home - giving it a minty flavor is a wonderful touch :)

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  17. Have been hearing so much about quinoa..but unfortunately I have not spotted it anywhere here in the Indian markets....but the recipe sure sounds very healthy and delicious

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  18. Never tried quinoa before...this looks very tempting and nutritious :)

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  19. I have got to try quinoa, never tried it....thanks for the recipe Hema :-)

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  20. What a lovely, spicy and delicious quinoa recipe. I really like all the fresh veggies and spices you used.

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  21. very tempting...

    http://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com/

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