Keen on Quinoa? Look no further

Quinoa, pronounced keen-wah, is one of the world’s most popular health foods — although kebabs do not quite enjoy the same reputation. But the two are combined in this trio of top recipes for you to try this week.
Quinoa is a grain-like seed that is gluten-free, high in protein and one of the few plant foods that contain all nine essential amino acids. It is also high in fiber, magnesium and B-vitamins. In the recipe, below, quinoa replaces meat in this delicious kebab mixture.
Meat eaters can, however, try the below recipe for biryani, a South Asian mixed-rice dish with its origins among the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent. It is a delicacy and a popular main dish — one made with spices, rice, and meat — that is mostly enjoyed on weekends.
And to top things off, there is a sweet made from cornflakes presented in a way that kids will love.

RECIPE 1
QUINOA KEBABS
Serves 3
Preparation and cooking time: 40 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup of quinoa
A few parsley leaves
A few cilantro leaves
A teaspoon of red chili powder
A teaspoon of ginger garlic paste
A teaspoon of garam masala powder
A teaspoon of fenugreek dry leaves
1 chopped green chili
1 egg
A tablespoon of lime juice
Handful of chopped carrot
Handful of chopped capsicum
1 small boiled and mashed potato

METHOD:
1) Soak 1 cup of quinoa for half an hour.
2) Boil for half an hour in lots of water, and then strain.
3) Add chopped cilantro and parsley leaves to it.
4) Add the above mentioned ingredients.
5) Semi-boil the vegetables and add the quinoa along with mashed potato and egg.
6) Mix everything together and make round kebabs.
7) Shallow fry them on both sides.

RECIPE 2
MINCED MEAT RAINBOW BIRYANI
Serves 5
Preparation and cooking time: 1 to 2 hours

There are four layers of rice and each layer has a different flavor.

INGREDIENTS:
500 grams of minced meat
4 cups of rice (wash and soak for half an hour)
Yellow food color (a pinch)
Red food color (a pinch)
Green food color (a pinch)
Salt as required
A bunch of cilantro leaves
A bunch of mint leaves
1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
A few curry leaves
2 ripe tomatoes
1 tablespoon of tomato puree
1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
Fried onions for garnishing
1 tablespoon of kewra water.
Minced meat is prepared with usual spicy ingredients.

METHOD:
1) Divide the rice into four parts of 1 cup each.
2) First part should be plain, boiled and steamed in 1 teaspoon of salt.
3) Second part is flavored with ground cilantro and mint leaves, cumin seeds and curry leaves with a pinch of salt and a pinch of green color. Boil the rice and steam it.
4) Third part is boiled and steamed rice in 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder with salt and a pinch of yellow color.
5) Fourth part is boiled rice in tomato puree and ground tomatoes with salt and red color.
6) All parts should be boiled and steamed with each part kept separate.
7) Make minced meat with the usual ingredients, adding more spices so as to balance the taste of the biryani.
8) Grease a deep microwave bowl. Begin layering the rice.
9) Start with white rice layer, then the green layer, then a minced meat layer, and then the yellow and red layers.
10) Repeat layering.
11) Add a teaspoon of kewra water to it and microwave or bake for a few minutes.
12) Keep a plate over the dish and remove the bowl.
13) You may garnish the dish with fried onions or any way you like.
14) Enjoy with green raita.

RECIPE 3
CORNFLAKES “BURFI”
Serves 6
Preparation and cooking time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups of cornflakes
1 cup desiccated coconut
Half cup rolled oats (optional)
1 small tin of condensed milk
1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon of cardamom powder
1 small cup of ghee
Half cup of sugar and 1 cup of water

METHOD:
1) Chop rolled oats and cornflakes together and roast them in a deep vessel for 2 to 3 minutes on low heat until golden brown.
2) Add cardamom and cinnamon powder and mix well again.
3) Meanwhile cook sugar and water together in a separate vessel; add a teaspoon of cardamom powder to it.
4) Add coconut powder to cornflakes and start pouring melted ghee; keep stirring it.
5) Add condensed milk and mix it well.
6) Add boiled water and sugar syrup to the mixture and mix well.
7) Remove from the flame. Do not overcook.
8) Grease a flat dish and pour the mixture in it and spread it evenly, and garnish it with roasted nuts.
9) When set, cut into brick-shaped pieces, and enjoy!
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