Sometimes thinking ahead pays! For instance, when Usha came down to India last year, I shamelessly requested her to get me a pack of quinoa. It was around that time that I was making a list of dishes for Journey Through The Cuisines,where I am doing an A-Z recipe posts through the cuisine of Karnataka.


Quinoa is gaining popularity in India but in my place it is pretty expensive. So with the batch of Usha’s quinoa, I have made a list of dishes to make with quinoa.Since I have never cooked with this grain, I went ahead to experiment with it.

The moment I mention about my link to Karnataka, the first question people often ask is if I can make a mean Bisi Bele Bhath!Until a few years back I was sort of a sore thumb in the family! I never used to like or appreciate this dish. But one fine day, suddenly I had a craving and I am a total convert now.

Mom makes a really delicious Bisi Bele Bhath, my great grand mothers recipe. I got the recipe from her and made it a handful of times. When the blogging craze took over me, I wanted to make new dishes and with the rest of the traditional dishes, this one too was forgotten.

I found this a chance to revive it and made Bisi Bele Bhath with quinoa there by fulfilling the dish name to start with Q!!

I already have our family version of the dish, so this time I decided to make it a little different by adding veggies. The dish that mom/ grandmom makes does not have veggies. I know that most people look forward to seeing veggies in Bisi Bele Bhath, but we never make it that way.

My nephew had come down for a few days and he became my guinea pig for this dish. There were no complaints from him or hubby. They both liked it and even Lil Angel had a second helping. So now if anyone asks me if I can make Bisi Bele Bhath, I can give a bold and honest answer.

So here is my version , a twist to our family recipe…

I used:

Quinoa – 1 cup
Thogiri bele/Toor dhal -3/4 cup
Hunisehannu/Tamarind – lemon size [enough to make ¾ cup extract]
Arisin pudi/Turmeric powder- a pinch
Hasi Kadalekaye / Raw groundnut – 1/8 cup
Uppu/Salt – to taste
Karibevu / Curry leaves- a few
Mixed veggies – I used carrot,peas,tomato,potato,beans
Yenne / Oil- 1 tablespoon

For the masala paste

Kothamari beeja /Coriander seeds– 3 teaspoons
Kadalebele /Channa Dhal – 2 teaspoons
Menthya/Fenugreek seeds -1/4 teaspoon
Ona Menasinakaye /Red chillies-2
Ingu/Asafoetida – a pinch
Thengin Thuri /Grated coconut – 5 teaspoons

Ogarnay /Seasoning

Ollenay /Sesame seed oil – 2 teaspoons
Karibevu/Curry leaves – a few sprigs
Lavanga/Cloves – 5
Kadalekaye/Groundnut – 1 tablespoon
Sasve /Mustard 1/2  teaspoon
Jeerege / Cumin seeds – 1/2 teaspoon

Soak the raw groundnut. Meanwhile chop the vegetables.Soak the tamarind in hot water for 10 minutes and extract the juice to make 3/4 cup.Wash the dal and quinoa,drain and keep aside. Gather the ingredients for the masala paste and seasoning.

 Heat oil in a pan and add the ingredients to make the masala paste except the coconut. Roast till the dal turns brown. Add the coconut and turn off the heat. Give it a mix and allow to cool. Grind to a fine paste adding a little water and keep aside.

 Heat oil in a pressure cooler and add the vegetables, drained groundnut, tamarind extract[adjust to taste,it differs with the quality. The dish must be slightly tangy but not too much.].Add the ground masala paste and around 4 cups of water, salt.

Add turmeric powder and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the washed and drained quinoa-Dal mixture .Mix once and pressure cook for 15 minutes / till the dal and quinoa gets cooked. Open the cooker after the pressure releases and check the consistency. I t must be gooey. Else add a little water and mix. Check the taste and see if it needs salt or tamarind extract. If adding simmer for 5 minutes.

In a smaller pan heat oil for seasoning and add all the ingredients listed under it. Once the mustard pops and groundnut turns brown, pour over the quinoa – dal mixture and stir well.

Serve hot / at room temperature with a raita and crispies.Here I have served it with Kanchay soppu Raita.

This post also goes to the A-Z Challenge 

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 63

14 thoughts on “Quinoa Bisi Bele Bhath”

  1. Good to know the quinoa has come to rescue for this BM. I felt bad I could not get more cranberries. I had brought two bags but one day my younger nephew opened the bad and are some of the berries. Had to leave it behind for the kids. Quinoa bbb looks delicious and nice of know everyone enjoyed it.

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