About:

Pilaf (also known as pilav, pilau, plov,pulao) is a traditional indian rice dish with vegetables and plenty of flavours. It is a wholesome rice dish packed with full of nutrients from vegetables and using quinoa makes it healthy and rich in fiber.

I love casserole dishes. a one dish meal is convenient, easy and reminds me of home.  This baked casserole is vegetable quinoa pilaf- its packed with protein through quinoa, nutrients through veggies.

You can make this casserole in advance and bake it later. This serves great for lunch/dinner.

Yields-2-3
Preparation time-15 minutes
Cooking time-35 minutes
Baking time-20-25minutes

Ingredients:

• Quinoa-1cup
• Carrot-1medium (peeled and julienned)
• Green beans-1/2cup (sliced)
• Bell peppers-1(sliced)
• Peas-1/2cup
• Sweet corn-1/2cup
• Turmeric-1/2tsp
• Green chilli-2 (chopped/slit to two)
• Vegetable oil-1tbsp
• Chopped garlic-2cloves
• Grated ginger-1tsp
• Bay leaf-1
• Salt- to taste

For garam maslas powder:

• Cardamom-2
• Black pepper corns-5
• Whole cloves-3
• Ground nutmeg-1/4tsp
• Cinnamon-1inch stick
• Star anise-1

For casserole:

• Low fat mozzarlla cheese-75-100gms
• Roughly chopped Mixed nuts- a handful (almonds, pista, cashew, walnuts)
• Sliced onion-1medium
• Chopped tomatoes-2medium

Procedure:

For garam masala:

• Combine all the spices listed in the table above in a blender and grind finely as possible and keep aside.

For pilaf:

• Rinse and wash thoroughly the quinoa and soak for 30minutes, then drain again.
• Heat oil in a saucepan, when it hot add in bay leaf, ginger, garlic and saute for few seconds. (approx. 10-15seconds)
• Now add the chillies, carrot, green beans and stir and cook for 2-3minutes
• Add in peas, sweet corn and cook for 1-2minutes
• Add turmeric, ground garam masala powder and saute for a minute or two.
• Now add in soaked and drained quinoa.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir the rice very gently to mix it into other ingredients and coat it with oil and spices. cook this way for 2-3minutes
• Add in 2cups of water, salt and bring to the boil.
• Cover the lid and then turn the heat to very low and cook for 15-18minutes/until quinoa is tender and fluffy.
• Continue to simmer 5 -8 minutes more if you don’t wish to bake for rice casserole
• (Include cheese if required 2 mins before taking it off from hob)
• While serving top with roasted nuts or fried onions and Enjoy

Serve hot

For Casserole:

• Before baking for casserole let the rice/ quinoa cool down to room temperature so just spread in a broad dish so that it helps to separate the grain from becoming mushy.
• Pre-heat the oven at 180deg C. grease a 8×8/any oven safe dish.
• Pour the pilaf rice into the prepared baking dish top it with some onion, chopped nuts and cheese
• Bake for 18-20 minutes

Serve hot with Raita (links)/any side dish of your choice.

Note:

• Any rice can be used alternatively to quinoa.
• Spices can be personalised as per the taste.

I am bringing this to Angie’s Fiest Friday #36