Saturday, July 19, 2008

Quinoa Upma

By: Jennifer KumarQuinoa Upma

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Ingredients:
1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
2 tspn oil (vegetable or olive)
pinch mustard seeds
8-10 curry leaves
2-3 green chilies sliced in half lengthwise
1/8 cup finely diced onion
15-20 cashew pieces as per taste (optional)
1/8 cup each -corn kernels, peas, edamame
to taste salt



Method:
1. Heat oil in a wok.
2. Add mustard seeds.
3. When seeds pop add curry leaves, green chilies, onions and cashews. Stir until onions become translucent or cashews brown.
4. Add 1/2 cup water and add in veggies. I used frozen vegetables so I steamed them in this mixture until soft.
5. Add quinoa and 1 cup water. (Quinoa is cooked with twice the water as quinoa, but the extra water already added softened the veggies and cashews.)
6. Add salt to taste and keep stirring and cooking. Quinoa grains separate after cooking for some time, this means they have been cooked. Keep cooking and stirring until water has evaporated. Upma should be a dry stir fry mixture. Do not leave mixture alone, it should not burn and could easily burn if not watched and stirred continuously.

Serves 3-5.

Upma is the name of a variety of dishes with a similar consistency. Salt or uppa is the main ingredient. From our most educated guess upma comes from combining the (Tamil/Malayalam) words uppa (salt) and maavu (batter/mixture). There are different varieties of upma, and by the title of upma you know the main ingredient. In this case, it is quinoa. I have made the most famous upma with sooji (rava), in addition to vermicelli, bread and Buggani (Puffed Rice Upma). The other varieties are very similar except in how to prepare the main ingredient for the upma. I am sure there are other varieties, but I have yet to be introduced to them!

Notes on Quinoa: "Quinoa was of great nutritional importance in pre-Columbian Andean civilizations, being secondary only to the potato, and followed in third place by maize. In contemporary times this crop has come to be highly appreciated for its nutritional value, as its protein content is very high (12%–18%), making it a healthy choice for vegetarians and vegans." (source: Wikipedia)

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tags: quinoa, grains, upma, "upma varities", breakfast, "Indian breakfast", "south Indian breakfast"

11 comments:

Usha said...

Hi This is my first visit to your blog,you have a very nice one.

This twist to the regular upma using quinoa instead is a very good idea,good way to get the grain in our diet.

Jen Kumar said...

Thanks for stopping by Usha.
Also saw your blog and love your descriptions!

Srivalli said...

Jennifer, that looks really so pretty!

Jen Kumar said...

Thanks, Srivali. Glad you stopped by!

RoL said...

Hello Jennifer,

I was searching about Quinoa and came across this recipe. Could you tell me if Quinoa is available in India and by what name do we get it. I searched it on net, but was unable to find the right name!

Regards,
Prathibha
rhythm42002@gmail.com

Jen Kumar said...

Prathibha,
Thanks for stopping by. I am not too sure about where or how Quinoa is available in India and if it would go by any other name. I did a google search and from this blog
http://enjoyindianfood.blogspot.com/2008/10/dudhi-patra-nu-shaak.html
I found this.. maybe it will be useful. If you do find it, post back to this blog so readers here will have valuable info! Thanks.

"On a different note, I got an email and comment from Wanitha Ashok that Quinoa is now available in India. She is the distributor of Quinoa in India . In her words -
"Hey guys ! Now quinoa is available in India thank God for that!!I am so hooked to it now..Earlier i was sorcing it from outside and now guess what I am the distributer for Quinoa.... what great nutrition......I have been using Quinoa from 6 months now and i swear by this wonder grain...people have noticed the change in my complextion!!!....I would say just like Dal this grain is a must in ones daily diet..write to me if u want to buy Quinoa!wanithaashok@gmail.com"

Unknown said...

Thats a good idea:) I used to use Lima beans, adding edamame is also a very good healthy treat:) Thanks for sharing Jennifer:)

Beyond Curries said...

Yes Jennifer, I too have made this and loved it. Now this reminds me that it's long time since I made this upma.

Jen Kumar said...

Thanks for stopping by, Madhuram!! Enjoy.

momsnetwork said...

the upma came out very well , on eof my brakfast favorites ..remember calling up ma for the recipe :) . I modified it though
________________________
Good Paediatrician in Velachery

Jen Kumar said...

Thanks momsnetwork.