8 Indian dishes made with quinoa that are ideal for dinner

Bored of regular rice and roti for dinner? Then, try using quinoa for your meals. It is a nutrient-dense ancient grain, which is naturally gluten-free and rich in plant-based protein. It has been proven to contain all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein and a valuable staple for vegetarian and vegan diets. It is also high in dietary fibre, iron, magnesium, and antioxidants, supporting digestion, sustained energy, and overall metabolic health. Scroll down to learn the art of making Indian dishes with quinoa.

It is a wholesome one-pot meal made with quinoa, moong dal, seasonal vegetables like carrot, capsicum, beans, and corn, and is tempered with ginger, cumin, green chilli and ghee. It is a comforting meal with a healthy twist.

Replace rice with fluffy quinoa and cook it along with whole spices, sautéed vegetables, and soft paneer cubes. It makes for a filling meal, best served with raita.

This one makes for a filling winter dinner, where you cook spinach puree and quinoa along with toor or masoor dal to make a one-pot meal and add a tempering of garlic and cumin. Light on the stomach and rich in iron, it makes for a filling dinner, when served with pickle and curd on the side.

This one is inspired by the classic South Indian dish made with sooji. Simply replace sooji with quinoa and cook along with mustard seeds, curry leaves, veggies, and a squeeze of lemon and enjoy with rasam on the side.

Stuffed bell peppers are tempting, but one can always replace the potatoes with even healthier options. Try to fill them with spiced quinoa, onions, tomatoes, and herbs, then baked or shallow fry in a pan and enjoy.

This is for those who love a bit heavier meals. All you need to do is, mix cooked quinoa with mashed potatoes, spices like coriander powder, salt chilli flakes, ginger, garlic, shape them into tikkis and shallow-fried and pair with rumali roti or salad for a complete dinner.

It is a lighter version of the classic South Indian Lemon Rice, where you replace rice with cooked quinoa and combine in a tempering of turmeric, peanuts, green chilies, and lemon juice. One can also add veggies like capsicum and carrot to make a filling and comforting meal.

To make this gut-friendly dish, you need cooked quinoa and mix it with curd and a tempering of mustard seeds, curry leaves, ginger, and roasted peanuts. Top it with some pomegranate seeds as well.