Fusion Quinoa Pulav

Quinoa, A Healthy Option

I have been wanting to try this recipe for sometime and a couple of weeks ago, I got the opportunity.  I had some quinoa which I had bought some time ago and I had some rice which I wanted to use.  I decided to follow my usual recipe for Pulav and use Quinoa instead.   It was really delicious and a little will make you full .  And it's also very appetising to boot and the bonus is it has less calories than the traditional pulav.

The Recipe:

125 gms rice; 125 gms quinoa; 1 tbsp olive oil to fry the rice; ½ kg chicken.  Wash and dry.  Cut into large pieces.

Blend the following to a smooth paste:  1 large pod garlic, peel, wash and cut small; ½ inch piece of ginger, wash and cut small; ½ tsp turmeric powder; 3 cloves; 1 small piece cinnamon;2 cloves; 2 cardamoms, whole;  a few coriander & mint leaves; 2 green chillies, cut small; 1 large tomato, washed and  cubed.  This is the masala.

2 large onions, sliced fine; 3 tbsp olive oil.

500 ml hot water.

Place the masala, cut chicken with salt to taste and cover and cook in a large pan till tender.  Takes about 10 minutes. Next, heat a non stick pan and fry onions till golden brown.  Reserve half for the garnish.  Add the meat to the remaining onions and fry on a medium flame till gravy is thick. 

In the meanwhile, wash and drain the rice and quinoa seperately and fry in 1 tbsp oil in a 

nonstick pan till all the grains are coated.  Transfer to rice cooker, add the chicken masala

 and 500 ml hot water and cook till done.  Garnish with halved hard boiled eggs and serve hot with Curd Salad.  A very appetising dish indeed.