Savory Lemony Quinoa (Indian Style)

Eating healthy....I used to think is a myth :) How can something healthy be tasty??  In 2009, I proved myself wrong...I wanted to change my (rather my family's) food habits and started looking for healthy options.  I found South Beach Diet.  I do not believe in dieting...cause I love food...both eating and cooking.  But, this was an eye opener to many foods which I had never heard of before and also the health aspect of them.  I started experimenting...how to make this more tasty and still keep it simple...Below is the result of one of those experiments....

 

Ingredients:

• Quinoa - 3 cups (cooked).  See the note below for more information
• Olive Oil - 1 table spoon
• Mustard seeds - 1 tea spoon
• Cumin seeds - 1 tea spoon
• Curry leaves - 10-12 number
• Onion - 1/2 cup chopped finely
• Peanuts - 2 tablespoons (optional)
• Green Chilies - 3-4 finely chopped (add per taste)
• Turmeric powder - 1 tea spoon
• Salt - 2 tea spoons (add per taste)
• Lemon juice - 1 table spoon (optional)

 Method:

 

To a pan on medium heat, add Olive Oil.  Add the Mustard and Cumin seeds.  Let them splutter.  Add the Curry leaves and then the Onions.  Saute them till translucent.  Add all the other ingredients except Lemon juice and Quinoa.  Stir fry for about 1 minute.  Then add the Quinoa and Lemon Juice.  Mix well.  Savory Lemony Quinoa  is ready to enjoy...guilt free :)

 

Note: 

• Quinoa can be bought in most grocery stores now.  You get them in black and white variety.  I like the white one.  The black one is a little crunchy and nutty. 
• I cook Quinoa in the rice cooker just like rice (1 cup rice to 1 1/2 cups water).  You can also follow the cooking instructions at the back.
• For more information on Quinoa, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa

Simple Eggplant curry in a hurry

Eggplant is one of those vegetables which is very easy to cook and takes on the flavours very well.  This recipe is for one of those week nights when you don't have enough time or energy to make something elaborate but, want to eat something tasty, healthy and easy to make.

 

 

Ingredients:

• Eggplant - 2 cups
• Onion - Sliced thin and long - 1/2 cup
• Tomato - Chopped fine- 1 cup
• Cilantro - 2 table spoons - finely chopped
• Coriander powder - 1 table spoon
• Cumin powder - 1 tea spoon
• Turmeric powder - 1 tea spoon
• Garlic - finely chopped - 1 table spoon
• Salt - 1 table spoon (add per taste)
• Red chili powder - 1 table spoon (add per taste)
• Olive oil - 1 table spoon
• Water - 1 cup (add additional per desired consistency)

Method:

To a pan on medium heat, add onions.  Saute till translucent.  Add Tomatoes and saute till soft.  Add all other ingredients and close the lid.  Cook until the eggplant is soft.  This will take about 15 minutes.  Serve it with some Chapati, Roti or Rice.