There are so many grains that some of us have no clue about, but if I can speak for all, Quinoa is not one of them. Popular among the gluten free population, it's a grain which looks simple and humble to being cute once cooked. Packed with antioxidants and filled with fiber, these tiny grains gives a new meaning for power punch. If you want to learn about some new grains check out this LIST, it's interesting.
I try to incorporate quinoa into our diets few times a week. They are very adaptive. You walk around the web, browsing through recipes, and you can find that the uses for the grain is endless. I wrack my brain every night for next day's lunch box, don't you?? This dish is a double whammy. Not only a quick dinner, stuff it in a pita bread with some salsa, voila you have the lunch ready too.
The days I get health conscious, these patties on a salad bed makes an appearance. When you have girlfriends over for lunch, this is a nice way to feed some of your super health conscious beauties.. Quite simple to whip up, loaded with vegetables, spiced up a bit, these patties are crispy on the outside, moist inside with a lot of textures and flavors going around it. Served with some fresh mango salsa atop arugula, this is a light dinner and a good lunch along with a Sorbet...and your friends will silently thank you for not loading them up with stuff... Here goes this simple and healthy patty.
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Quinoa Vegetable Patty with Mango Salsa
Ingredients:
Quinoa - 1/2 cup
Potato - 1 boiled and mashed
Peas - 1/2 cup boiled
Carrots - 2 thinly sliced in quarters
Onion - 1/4 chopped finely
ginger/garlic paste - 1 tsp
green chilly - 1 finely chopped
pepper - 1/4 tsp
olive oil - 4 tbsp
salt to taste
Method:
1. Wash quinoa and cook for 15 minutes until you see it sprouted, or as per instructions, drain all water.
2. In a saute pan, add 1 tsp olive oil, fry onions for a minute. Add ginger garlic paste and fry. Add the sliced carrots, green chillies, and fry for 2 minutes and turn off the heat and let cool.
3. In a mixing bowl, add the cooked quinoa, mashed potato, peas and the cooled onion/carrot mixture. Add salt, pepper and mix well.
4. In a non stick pan, add little oil, take 1/2 cup of mixture, shape it to disc and fry it in a pan. You can crowd the pan and let brown on both sides well on medium flame. It takes about 3-4 minutes on each side.
Enjoy!!
Mango Salsa
Mango - 1 diced
Red bell pepper - 1/4 very finely chopped
Onion - 1/2 medium finely diced
jalapeno - 1 finely chopped
English cucumbers - 1/2 finely diced
lemon juice - 1 tsp
salt to taste
Mix everything together and top it on the Patties.
ENJOY!!
