Quinoa pulao. A delicious and aromatic pulao made with nutritious quinoa and vegetables. A super easy, healthy and delectable one pot meal recipe. Its a no onion garlic recipe but you can use onion garlic if you want.
Quinoa is a very healthy alternative to rice. You can also make rice pulao following this recipe. Just use rice instead of quinoa.
According to Healthline Quinoa is gluten-free and packed with nutrients like protein, zinc, fiber, folate, and antioxidants. Quinoa doesn’t take long to prepare, and you can add it to your diet in both sweet and savory dishes.
Always rinse the quinoa properly before using. I have used frozen sweet corn and green peas but you can use fresh if you have. Ghee or clarified butter is absolutely optional, vegan people can skip ghee. Used saffron for a lovely colour and flavour, you can skip if you don’t have. Add little turmeric powder instead of saffron for colour. I have used cashew nuts and raisins. You can use any nuts or dry fruits or skip if you want. Use any vegetable of your choice. Try and enjoy healthy nutritious and delicious quinoa pulao.
Recipe
Quinoa – 1/2 cup
Carrot – 1/2 cup, peeled and chopped
Beans – 1/2 cup, chopped
Green peas – 1/2 cup
Sweet corn – 1/3 cup
Green chilli – 1-2 chopped
Ginger – 1 teaspoon heaped
Cashew nuts – 2 tablespoon
Raisins – 2 tablespoon
Green cardamom – 3
Cloves – 3
Cinnamon – 1 inch piece
Cumin seeds – 1/2 teaspoon
Saffron – a pinch, optional
Oil – 1 tablespoon
Salt to taste
Biryani masala – 1/4 teaspoon
Ghee or clarified butter – 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (optional)
Lemon juice – 1/2 to 1 teaspoon
Water – 1&1/4 cup
Method
1. Wash the quinoa well. Use a strainer to rinse the quinoa properly. Drain the water.
2. Chop, rinse and drain all the vegetables. Grate the ginger.
3. Arrange all chopped and rinsed vegetables, dry fruits and quinoa.
4. Heat oil in a pan or wok. Add cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon and broken green cardamom.
5. When seeds starts to splutter add chopped carrot and beans. Fry for 2-3 minutes. Add grated ginger and chopped green chilli and saute for a minute. If you want to use onion garlic see notes.
6. Add cashew nuts and raisins. Saute for a minute. Add sweet corn and green peas. Mix well. Add rinsed and drained quinoa and salt to taste. Mix and saute for a minute.
7..Now add water and saffron if using. Mix well and let it boil. When it starts to rolling boil reduce the heat. Cover and cook on simmer for 10 minutes.
8. After 10 minutes remove the cover and add lemon juice and stir. You can also add lemon juice at the end. Cover again and cook on simmer for 5-6 minutes or till water absorbed.
9..Add biryani masala and ghee. Get the Biryani masala recipe here.
10. Mix and switch off the stove. Fluff the quinoa well and let it covered for 3-4 minutes. Your delicious flavorful quinoa pulao is ready to serve. Serve hot.
Notes
1. You can use any vegetable of your choice. 2. Wash quinoa properly with the help of a strainer.
3. If you want to use onion garlic add before adding carrot and beans. Fry chopped onion and grated or minced garlic until onion becomes translucent. Then add vegetables.
4. Use green chilli more or less according to your taste.
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