A light, bright and healthy Quinoa Bhel with vegetables, tangy sauce and spices!
Quinoa is a nutrient rich food & has many health benefits. It is classified as a whole grain and is a good source of plant protein and fiber. One cup of cooked quinoa gives you 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. It also keeps you full for long.
Sometimes it is hard to plan and cook the right amount of food. Leftovers are inevitable part of life. In this recipe, leftover quinoa turns into a great meal in less than 10 minutes. I had some cooked quinoa and less time in hand to whip up a quick meal. So ended up with this easy Bhel recipe. You can add anything that you would add for a typical Bhel Puri. I did not have time to cook potatoes so made this recipe without it. Feel free to add any Sev/Boondi or mixture variety as well. I wanted to keep it as healthy as possible so avoided all the fried snacks.
For Bhel Puri you pretty much add all the ingredients, toss the puffed rice and adjust the spices. Similarly in this recipe, quinoa is tossed with all the other ingredients. You dont have to follow a recipe as such, just add all that you have in hand and mix them. Add and adjust spices as needed.
Date and Tamarind chutney are available in all Indian grocery stores. I always keep green chutney handy as I use it on sandwiches/ buddha bowls/chat items often. For the chutney – Grind cilantro, green chilies, cumin powder, chat masala, lemon juice, sugar, and salt into a fine paste). Use as needed. To cook the quinoa - In a saucepan, add 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of water. Mix well. Cover and cook in low to medium flame until all the water is evaporated and the quinoa is cooked well. Cool it down completely before making the Bhel.
Hope you enjoy making this as much as I did!
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Serves : 5 - 6 people
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups quinoa, cooked
1/2 cup corn, cooked
1/2 cup cooked chickpeas ( canned is fine)
1/2 cup pomogranate
1/4 cup carrot, grated
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup raw mango, finely chopped
1/2 cup boiled potato, cut into cubes(optional)
2 tablespoon green chutney
1 - 2 tablespoon dates & tamarind chutney
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon chat masala
1/2 teaspoon black salt
1/2 lemon juice, from 1/2 medium sized lemon
salt, as needed
2 tablespoon cilantro
Mix all the ingredients - cooked quinoa, corn, chickpeas ,pomogranate,carrot,onion, raw mango,green chutney, tamarind chutney, red chili powder, cumin powder, chat masala, black salt,lemon juice, salt and cilantro. Check for taste and add spices accordingly. Enjoy!