Quinoa Khichadi

This recipe was given to me by my hip, young and health-conscious aunt from Cali! It's a very quick and easy recipe to make a lighter version of khichadi. A comfort food for sure, it is best enjoyed piping hot on a cold winter day. I would like to note that quinoa is not readily available at the regular grocery store, atleast not around here. I bought a big bag of quinoa from Costco, so I will definitely be making this quite often as our house begins another health kick in the coming year ..

1 cup quinoa

4 tbsp moong, soaked (1/4 cup)

2 tbsp moong dal (1/8 cup)

2 tbsp masoor dal (red kind) (1/8 cup)

1/2 onion, chopped

1/2 eggplant, chopped

1 handful frozen edamame, shelled (boiled for 5 minutes and then peeled)

1/4 cup frozen green peas

1/2 medium potato, peeled and chopped

1/2 carrot, peeled and chopped

1/2 cup spinach, chopped

1 tsp mustard seeds

Pinch of hing

ginger paste, garlic paste, green chili paste to taste

Salt to taste

2 1/2-3 cups water (basically double the quantity of quinoa and dal)

1. I soaked the moong overnight but a few hours should be just fine.

2. Boil the frozen edamame in boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain. Peel when it cools down.

3. Make vagar in pressure cooker with mustard seeds. When pops, add the hing. Sautee onions first.

4. Then add the veggies and dals. Mix together. Also add the salt, turmeric, green chili paste, garlic paste and ginger paste, and garam masala. Mix together.

5. Add the edamame and quinoa next followed by the water. Close lid of pressure cooker.

6. Khichadi is done after 4 whistles. Turn off heat. When all of the pressure is released, add the spinach and mix it in when it is piping hot.

7. Serve hot with chaas or khadhi and mango pickle, if desired.

On a side note, I tweaked the original recipe a little. Original recipe called for 1/4 cup quinoa, 1/4 cup moong beans, 1 tomato, zucchini in place of eggplant, and biryani masala in place of garam masala. Hope you try it either way because this meal is a definite go-to comfort food!