HOME        |        ABOUT        |        COPYRIGHT        |        CONTACT        |         RECIPE INDEX        |         INDIAN THAALIS        |         MILLET RECIPES        |        EVENTS' ROUNDUP        

Friday, November 25, 2011

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.

Comments

17 comments:

Kalyani said...

very nutritious and filling !


Kalyani
200th Post & Giveaway
Event Ends 30th Nov: Flavours of China

Srivalli said...

That surely looks very filling Suma, these whole hearty soups will be so filling right..:)

kitchen queen said...

thick nutritious and refreshing soup

vidhas said...

Very healthy and filling soup.nice click.

Kaveri Venkatesh said...

A wholesome and heartwarming soup

Herbs & Flowers: Spring Onions

Gayathri Kumar said...

Delicious and warming soup...

Savi-Ruchi said...

wonder when can I participate in Marathons? Lovely soup though :)

Nalini's Kitchen said...

delicious, healthy and comfort soup for the winter weather.

Aarthi said...

yummy yummy

hotpotcooking said...

healthy and yummy soup.
http://hotpotmeal.blogspot.com

vaishali sabnani said...

lovely filling soup..n I agree suma..here in India most families would make a full fledge meal for lunchbox..but even I make something filling may b ..it just shud b filling n satisfying:)

Vardhini said...

Nice way of using quinoa .. soup looks yummy.

Vardhini
Checkout my 200th Post Giveaway
Event: Bake Fest
Event: Dish it Out - Soy and Tomatoes

Cool Lassi(e) said...

This soup has my name on it! And I am in love with those mugs/bowls..Where did you get those?

Priya Suresh said...

Wow super filling soup,cant wait to try this combo soon.

saffronstreaks said...

this soup has written healthy and nutritious all over it

Pavani said...

Three course meals for lunch is something I can't think of in million years. I'm not sure how our moms could even do it with the limited resources they had (2 stove burners, no microwaves etc..)
Your soup looks filling and healthy.. Will have to try this combo myself -- looks yumm..

rajani said...

Soup for lunch? great idea!