Name: Quinoa Upma
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 cup Quinoa; 1 cup Mixed vegetables ((peas, carrots, beans, cauliflower, potato, etc)); ½ Onion ((chopped)); 1 inch Ginger ((chopped)); 1 green chili ((chopped)); ¼ tsp turmeric powder; Salt to taste; 2 tbsp cooking oil; Cilantro ((for garnishing)); ½ tsp black mustard seeds; ½ tsp split white urad dal; ½ tsp yellow split pigeon peas (chana dal)

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Quinoa Upma is a different, more flavorful way of cooking your quinoa. I started eating quinoa instead of rice as it has more protein and is a much healthier option. You can read about the 11 proven health benefits of Quinoa here.

On its own, quinoa is pretty tasteless, so you need to add some flavors to it.

I decided to try out this Quinoa Upma and I was pleasantly surprised. Upma is a very common Indian breakfast usually made with Semolina. (Sooji/Rava in India) it is made with vegetables and a few spices. It is vegan and gluten-free as well!

What are the ingredients for Quinoa Upma?

Quinoa – I used white quinoa, but any kind of quinoa will work.

Mixed vegetables like carrots, beans, and peas

Onion

Ginger

Green chili

Turmeric powder ( optional) – I use it for most of my recipes because of its medicinal value, you can read more about it here. If you leave it out, your Upma will not be yellow but white.

Salt to taste

Cilantro

Oil

For seasoning:

Mustard seeds

Channa dal ( split yellow peas)

Split Urad dal ( white split dal)

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How do you make this Quinoa Upma?

Heat some oil in a pan. Add seasoning ingredients., when they splutter, add chopped onions, ginger, and green chilies.

Next, add the turmeric powder if using. After that goes in the vegetables along with salt to taste. Mix well.

Put in the washed and drained quinoa. Add double the quantity of water. Mix and cover it.

Check after about 10 to 15 minutes. The quinoa would have absorbed all the water. Mix gently and make sure that it is not too wet or too dry.

Garnish with chopped cilantro. Serve with coconut chutney or peanut chutney. ( any kind of chutney will do)

Quinoa Upma

Quinoa cooked with mixed vegetables and a few Indian spices.

Course Breakfast, Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Author Nandini

Ingredients

1 cup Quinoa
1 cup Mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, beans, cauliflower, potato, etc)
½ Onion (chopped)
1 inch Ginger (chopped)
1 green chili (chopped)
¼ tsp turmeric powder
Salt to taste
2 tbsp cooking oil
Cilantro (for garnishing)

For Seasoning

½ tsp black mustard seeds
½ tsp split white urad dal
½ tsp yellow split pigeon peas (chana dal)

Instructions

Heat the oil in a wide pan, add seasoning ingredients, when the mustard seeds splutter, add chopped onions, ginger, and green chili.
Add turmeric powder if using it.
Next, add in the vegetables and salt to taste. Mix well.
Put in the washed and drained quinoa, adding double the quantity of water. (2 cups)
Mix and cover it on medium to low flame. Check after about 10 to 15 minutes, the quinoa would have absorbed all the water.
It should not be too dry or too wet. Garnish with chopped cilantro.
Serve with coconut chutney or peanut chutney on the side.

NOTES:

Make sure to wash the quinoa a couple of times to get rid of its bitterness.
When adding water, use the same measuring cup used to measure the quinoa.
You can add different vegetables like carrots, peas, green beans, potatoes, cauliflower, etc