[Ekadesi] Quinoa Pulao

When I first tried quinoa, I was pregnant and I did not like its smell when it was cooked due to my nausea. Then I started using moriyo and tried to make different dishes using that. Later I came to know moriyo has more carbs, but quinoa is really a good and healthy choice. That time I was out of those initial pregnancy blues :) From then on I mostly cook quinoa only on Ekadesi days. I made quiona briyani, pulao and then ended up in cooking it like rice, mix it with yogurt and have it with broccoli stir fry. Those are really a yummy combo. Last time Ekadesi fell on Sunday and I had to cook for the Bhakthi Vriksha class. I made quinoa pulao after long time and it got me so much of appreciations :) Now I have all the courage to post my recipe :D

Here goes the recipe.

Ingredients:

Quinoa – 2 cups

Water – 2 cups

Thin coconut milk – 2 cups (Please don’t use store bought as it contains preservatives)

Butter – 2 tbsp

Cashew nuts – few

Peanuts – 2 tbsp

Cumin seeds – 1 tsp

Green chillies – 2

Ginger(grated) – 2 tsp

Cabbage(shredded) – 1 cup

Mint – 1 handful

Coriander leaves – few strands

Method:

1. Wash and soak the quinoa and peanuts in water
2. In a pressure cooker add butter, once it becomes hot add cashew nuts and fry till they turn golden brown
3. Add cumin seeds. Once it splutters, add green chillies and grated ginger and fry nicely
4. Add shredded cabbage and fry for few minutes
5. Now grind mint and coriander leaves to a paste, add it to the cooker and stir them till its colour changed
6. Add quinoa and peanuts, water and coconut milk
7. Add salt and close the lid
8. Pressure cook it for 3 whistles
9. Pulao is ready now to be offered to the Lord