A Quick meal : Quinoa with veggies Indian style

We all have days when we are really tired, looking at the empty refrigerator with no leftovers, not knowing what to cook for our immediate meal but yet restrain from ordering pizza or chinese takeaway to avoid their consequences. On one such day, I digged out quinoa from our pantry and cooked a one course dinner by adding some vegetable cooked the Indian way.  It was a quite easy, quick and tasty meal for two!
Serves: 2- 3 persons
Preparation time: 5 mins
Cooking time: 20-25 mins mins


Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
1 tsp margarine (Butter of course is a tastier choice)
Canola Oil   (Any oil should be good)
1 Onion sliced longitudinally
1 red pepper sliced longitudinally
Ginger paste (1 tsp)
Garlic paste (1 tsp)
Pre-cut mixed veggies (Carrot, beans, green peas)
Tomato puree (2 tbsp)
Cumin powder (1/2 tsp)
Coriander powder (1/2 tsp)
Turmeric powder (1/2 tsp)
Chilli powder (1/2 tsp); you can use green chillies instead
Salt to taste


Method:

                                       Different Stages of Quinoa Meal

• Cook quinoa separately - Boil 1 cup of water with margarine and pinch of salt and add quinoa. Simmer for 2 mins. Remove from heat and keep covered.
• In a non stick pan heat oil and fry onion and red peppers for 3 minutes.
• Add ginger -garlic and fry for 2 minutes
• Add tomato and saute well and then add veggies.
• Add cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powder.
• Add sugar and salt to taste.
• Simmer for 10 mins or veggies are cooked.
• Add quinoa with cooked veggies.
• Garnish with cilantro.

Enjoy your 'fatafat' meal :)

Final Meal : Quinoa with mixed veggies

Substitute quinoa with rice or couscous according to taste and availability.


Ajanta from Amherst