Quinoa - Masoor Dal Soup

I wondered whether I need to post a full course meal each day if I choose "lunchbox" theme in this marathon and bombarded Valli with emails. Valli in her usual, flexible style told to go easy. A "three course meal" kind of lunchbox sounds so whimsical in this fast paced world. However it was a "typical norm" in India for a generation before us. The women had the patience, energy and dedication to deliver such meals to the head of the household. I have neither cooked a full course meal for my husband's lunchbox till date nor planning to cook one in the future. However, he is sure to find a fulfilling, homemade, fresh food each day when he opens his lunchbox. 

My husband likes to carry a single item in a microwaveable box since he enjoys his food hot. Breakfast dishes / rice items / soups are some of his favorite lunch items and particularly the latter one seems so fuss free to me as a cook. And so, sometimes I pack just a soup. However, if not pairing with a salad / sandwich, I try to make it a wholesome and fulfilling one by going with a grain-bean-veggie combination. Today's "lunchbox" idea for BM#10 revolves around the same theme yielding a nutritious, guilt free lunch. I don't follow a particular recipe when it comes to soups but I stick with those ingredients that seem to work in a recipe.

Ingredients: (For 3-4 servings)

1 Tbsp olive oil / butter

1 onion, finely minced

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

2 cups chopped vegetables (I used celery, beans, carrot)

1 vegetable bouillon cube

1/4 cup quinoa and/or millet

1/4 cup masoor dal 

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Heat oil and add onion, garlic and celery. Fry until onion softens and then add the veggies. Saute for a couple of minutes more.

Add about 5 cups of water and bring it to a boil. Then add the vegetable bouillon cube, masoor dal, quinoa/millet and salt. Cook until the dal and quinoa/millet are done.

To quicken the process, the entire contents can be transferred to a pressure cooker and cooked up to 3 whistles. Season with pepper and serve hot.

Note:
The soup would be not be as thick as the one in the image. I purposely added less water to show the contents.

Check here to find out what the other marathoners are cooking.

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