Vegetable Quinoa Pulav (Pilaf)

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) is a grain that comes from the Andes Mountains of South America. It was introduced to me by my colleague at work who is a Vegan and since then I have also noticed articles about it online and in magazines. Initially I used to eat plain cooked Quinoa as a substitute for rice. Gradually I started trying it out in different recipes and realised that the options are endless.You can buy Quinoa at Costco, Walmart, Kroger, Giant Eagle, your local supermarkets and even on Amazon.

Quinoa is gaining in popularity as a super grain. It is an amino acid-rich (protein) seed that has a fluffy, slightly crunchy texture with a somewhat nutty flavor when cooked. Quinoa contains more protein than any other grain.Quinoa is light, tasty, and easy to digest and doesn't get sticky like most other grains.

Ingredients
1 Cup - Quinoa
1.5 Cup - Frozen Vegetable Mix
1/2 Cup - Onion (Chopped)
1 Clove - Garlic (Finely chopped)
1/2 Cup Tomato (Chopped)
1/2 Tsp - Jeera/ Cumin
1/2 Tsp - Pepper
3 Tsp - Fresh Lime Juice
Salt to taste
Cilantro for Garnish

Directions to cook Quinoa

• Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a non stick sauce pan.
• Add 1 cup quinoa, bring back to boil, cover, cook over medium heat for12 minutes or until the quinoa has absorbed all the water. 
• Remove from heat , fluff, cover and let it stand for 15 minutes. Yields 4 cups of cooked quinoa

Directions for Quinoa Pulav

• Heat the oil in a pan. 
• Add Jeera and then add garlic and onions. 
• When the onions are translucent, add the tomatoes and saute for 5 mins. 
• Now add the frozen mixed vegetables. 
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Cook until all the water has been absorbed. 
• Add quinoa and mix well. 
• Add lime juice and more salt if needed. Garnish with cilantro.

Notes and Tips:
* You can cook the quinoa in vegetable/ Chicken or Beef stock.
* You can add Fried cashews and Onions to garnish the dish
* You can substitute cooked quinoa for rice or even use it as plant protein in smoothies or shakes