Quinoa Upma Recipe (Instant Pot & Stovetop)

Vegetable Quinoa Upma recipe is a simple and wholesome South Indian style breakfast dish loaded with vegetables cooked in an Instant pot pressure cooker or stovetop.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin (jeera) seeds
• 1 teaspoon split urad dal
• 1 teaspoon chana dal
• 8-10 cashew Nuts (optional)
• 2 green chili (finely chopped)
• 1 teaspoon ginger (minced)
• 1 stalk curry leaves
• a pinch asafoetida (hing)
• 1 small onion (finely chopped)
• 3/4 - 1 cup mixed vegetables (carrot, green beans and peas)
• 1 cup quinoa (rinsed)
• 1 1/4 cups water ((2 cups water for stovetop))
• salt (to taste)
• juice of half lime
• 2 tablespoons coriander leaves

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Firstly, Rinse the quinoa to remove the natural coating, called saponin, which can make it taste bitter or soapy. Drain excess water and keep aside.
2. 2--- Instant Pot Method: ---
3. 3Press SAUTE, Add oil, and once it’s hot add mustard seeds, jeera, urad dal, chana dal, cashew nuts and saute until dal changes into light golden brown.
4. 4Then add green chilies, ginger, curry leaves, hing, and saute for few seconds.
5. 5Add onions and saute until onion becomes light brown.
6. 6Then add chopped vegetables and saute for 2 minutes.
7. 7Add quinoa, water, salt, and mix well. Deglaze the pot i.e., scrape any food particle that is sticking to the inner pot in order to avoid the BURN alert.
8. 8Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 2 minutes.
9. 9Once the pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally. Open the lid and use a fork to fluff up the upma.
10. 10Lastly add coriander leaves, lime juice and mix well.
11. 11Instant Pot Quinoa Upma is ready to be enjoyed with coconut chutney and chai.
12. 12--- Stovetop Pot Method: ---
13. 13In a Kadai, add oil, and once it’s hot add mustard seeds, jeera, urad dal, chana dal, cashew nuts and saute until dal changes into light golden brown.
14. 14Then add green chilies, ginger, curry leaves, hing, and saute for few seconds.
15. 15Add onions and saute until the onions become light brown
16. 16Then add chopped vegetables and saute for 2-3 minutes.
17. 17Add rinsed quinoa and saute for 2 minutes with the veggies.
18. 18Add 2 cups of water (For more soft and fluffy texture add an extra ½ cup of water).
19. 19Cover with a lid and reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 15 minutes till the quinoa seeds are cooked.
20. 20Once quinoa is cooked turn off the gas and add coriander leaves and lime juice.
21. 21Mix Well and serve quinoa upma hot with coconut chutney or chutney powder.