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For a while I have been looking at this recipe that a friend shared with me, and finally I got down to preparing it. Prepare mint past...

Mint Quinoa: Prepared with Freezable Mint Sauce


For a while I have been looking at this recipe that a friend shared with me, and finally I got down to preparing it. Prepare mint paste or sauce, store it in the freezer and use it when needed to make mint quinoa or rice. It adds so much of flavor and taste to the quinoa that it has become my favorite quinoa based dish to prepare. Last night for dinner, I made mint quinoa and served it on the side with cucumber raita. The breakthrough with this recipe is that my niece who does not enjoy quinoa as much liked it. If you cannot find quinoa, please substitute it with rice it is absolutely delicious. 



Gadgets:

Blender
Measuring Spoons and Cups
Heavy Bottom Pan
Cutting Board
Knife



Mint Sauce/ Paste:
Ingredients:

Makes a Cup of Sauce:

Mint Leaves - 2 bundles 
Cilantro - 1 bundle
Garlic Cloves - 8
Ginger - 2 inches
Black Cardamom ( without skin) - 1
Green Cardamom - 5
Black Pepper - 12
Cloves -3
Cinnamon - 2 one inch sticks
Green Chilies- 1
Poppy Seeds/ Kas Kas - 1 tsp
Fennel Seeds - 1 tsp
Water - 1/4 cup ( optional)


Preparation: 

1. Add all these ingredients to a blender and blend into a paste. Transfer to a freezer proof ziploc and store it flat or in ice cube tray. 


Mint Quinoa:


Ingredients:

Serves 4 

Quinoa - 1 1/2 cups
Onion - 1 1/2 sliced thinly
Ginger - 1 inch
Garlic - 4 cloves
Peas - 1/2 cup
Green Chillies - 1 whole
Cumin Seeds or Shah Jeera - 1 tsp
Cloves - 3
Cinnamon - 1 inch
Bay Leaves - 1 
Cashew Nuts - 1/4 cup cut into pieces ( optional)
Raisins - 1/3 cup (optional)
Chili Powder - 1 tsp ( depending on your spice you can vary this)
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt
Water - 3 cups
Milk - 1 cup
Note: If using rice use water and milk accordingly
Mint Paste - 2 tbsp
Butter - 1 tbsp
Oil - 1 tbsp


Preparation:

1. Wash the quinoa and allow it to sit in water.

2. Heat the pan with oil and butter. Allow for the butter to melt and then add cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, cashew nuts and raisins. Allow for the cashews to lightly toast and the raisins to plump.

3. Add ginger, garlic and onions to the spices and cook them until the onions turn translucent. Add peas, chilli, turmeric powder and salt and cook for 2 minutes. 

4. Drain the water from quinoa and add to the veggie mix. Mix the quinoa well for 2 minutes.

5. Add water and milk and check to see if there is enough salt. Then add the mint paste and mix well. Add the whole chili.

6. Bring the liquid to a boil cover and cook for 15 minutes on medium heat.

7. There will be some amount of liquid left. Leave the pan half closed and allow the quinoa to cook through. 

8. Once the liquid is evaporated the quinoa might appear sticky, but in 5 minutes it will absorb the water and will be fine to enjoy it with cucumber raita.









20 comments:

  1. This is new to me. Nice one
    http://lavanyasrecipes.blogspot.com/

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  2. sounds really good.. i really love the different varieties you prepare with quinoa.. i have been wanting to try it but dono why i have been pushing it away.. this is very tempting !

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  3. Good one.I want to try Quinoa, its been sitting in my counter for a while. Will start with this recipe.

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  4. Mint quinoa looks delicious. I love to try them.

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  5. Amazing pictures. I don't know how you can make a frozen mint sauce look that good. I love quinoa and try to squeeze that wonderful grain in any dish possible. Love the color the mint sauce gives to the quinoa. First time here, and lovely to meet you. I'm hosting the WTML event this month, if interested link up your entry.

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  6. Definitely a super flavourful quinoa,freezing mint sauce sounds super handy and brilliant.

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  7. Very healthy and I like the idea of the frozen mint chutney..

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  8. looks so much like puliyogare,interesting dish, nice clicks

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  9. looks delicious..I store my green chutney in freezer in d same way..so that I will hv fresh green chutney when ever i need..:)

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  10. Thanks for sharing. We get mint only in summer and this will be a fine way to store them and use around the year..

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  11. I store green chilli and ginger in the freezer. when i need them I take them and wash and its good to go. Saves me from running to the India stores ever so often

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  12. Yes that is a great thing to do, I store chillies and ginger in the freezer.

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  13. very flavroful n healthy preparation...freezing the mint sauce, nice idea n makes work easy n handy!
    neatly presented..love it!!
    Spicy Treats

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  14. so flavourful and healthy dish, lovely platter :)

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  15. this is so healthy and delicious dish. lovely

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  16. I am totally loving this mint quinoa pilaf! so earthy and nutritious! lovely clicks too! thanks for the sweet comments on my blog!

    Do drop by my fundraiser too if you have a minute. I am trying to raise funds through auction of items donated by fellow bloggers for this amazing organization. you can bid,tweet, blog about it or share! every little bit helps. Thanks a bunch http://hobbyandmore.blogspot.com/p/fundraiser-for-vspca.html

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  17. Mint Quinoa looks fantastic. I also make it, but in a slightly different way. Love love your clicks.

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  18. Made vegetable biryani last night using the frozen mint prepared as mentioned above. it was so easy to make. I had made frozen mint without adding any ingredients in case I wanted to use it for something else.

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