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There are few dishes as delicious as Idli when it comes to healthy snacking. Originating in South India, there are plenty of Idli variations, and each makes for a great meal when paired with coconut chutney and sambhar. But if you are looking for a truly healthy version of this dish, then what you need is Quinoa Idli.
Quinoa is an ancient grain from South America. Packed with plenty of healthy plant proteins, dietary fibre, minerals and antioxidant compounds, quinoa is known to be quite the superfood. While most Idli recipes call for a batter made of rice, this Quinoa Idli is made with predominant amounts of quinoa, making it more of a nutrient-dense dish than ever before.
Of course, the addition of quinoa alters the taste of the Quinoa Idli. Because quinoa is naturally nutty in flavour, this now becomes the predominant flavour of the dish. Additionally, while most Idlis are white, Quinoa Idli is off-white and slightly brownish in colour. But when it comes to the cooking process of the Quinoa Idlis, that remains as easy and hassle-free as ever.
To make the Quinoa Idli, you will first need a good idli steamer and moulds. Without these, whipping up good idlis, be they made of quinoa or any other ingredient, is difficult. The second thing you need are the right ingredients. Get good-quality quinoa for the Quinoa Idli and make sure you rinse it thoroughly to get rid of any pesticides or dirt. Get good idli rice, urad dal and make sure everything is hygienically prepared.
Video courtesy: YouTube/Amu's Kitchenette
Another ingredient that can take your Quinoa Idli from a regular fare to an awesome, gourmet one, is the blend of ghee and podi. Also known as Milagai Podi or Mulgapodi, podi is a blend of roasted spices that is brushed on top of or plated along with dishes like dosa, idli, appam, rice, etc. When combined with hot ghee, podi has a unique flavour that elevates South Indian food to another level.
If you are looking for a healthy meal option or a delicious recipe that is healthy too, then try this ghee-podi coated Quinoa Idli. Here’s the recipe.
Ingredients:
1.5 cups quinoa
½ cup rice
½ cup urad dal
1 tsp fenugreek seeds
1 tsp rock salt
2 tbsp ghee
1.5 tbsp mulgapodi powder
Water, as required
2 tbsp oil
Method:
1. Rinse the quinoa repeatedly at least 4-5 times.
2. Wash and rinse the rice and urad dal and mix it with the quinoa in a large bowl.
3. Add the fenugreek seeds to the bowl, then add water.
4. Soak the quinoa, rice, urad dal and fenugreek seeds for at least 6 hours.
5. Drain the quinoa mix and shift it into a grinding jar.
6. Add salt and one cup water and grind everything into a fine paste.
7. Transfer the ground quinoa idli paste into a large steel or aluminium pot.
8. Cover the pot with a wet towel and set it aside to ferment for at least an hour.
9. To make the idlis, grease the idli moulds and ladle in the quinoa idli batter.
10. Place the moulds in a steamer and steam them for 10 minutes.
11. Remove the mould from the steamer, let them cool down a bit, then use a spoon to remove the quinoa idli from the mould.
12. Mix the ghee and mulgapodi powder in a bowl, then brush this mix onto each hot quinoa idli.
13. Serve the quinoa idli hot with sambhar and coconut chutney.
