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 it 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:
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 nor too dry.
Garnish with chopped cilantro. Serve with coconut chutney or peanut chutney. ( any kind of chutney will do)
Quinoa Upma
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
Do give this a try, it’s something different using quinoa! Makes a great filling breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
You might also like these easy vegetarian recipes:
Fried Masala Mushrooms – Deep-fried Vs Air-Fried!
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Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash
