Nut-Free Lemon Quinoa Pulihora
Servings: 2 people
Rate the Recipe:
Quinoa is a superfood packed with protein, fiber, and essential minerals. Try out the Nut-Free Lemon Quinoa Pulihora, my take on the classic staple from southern India. Gluten-Free. Vegan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp mustard seeds (sarson)
- 1 tsp chana dal (split chickpea)
- 1 tsp urad dal (split black gram)
- 1-2 whole red chillies
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 1/4 tsp asafoetida (hing)
- 1-2 chopped green chillies
- 1/2" piece of ginger chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp chopped green coriander leaves
Instructions
- To begin, wash quinoa well 3-4 times as you would do with rice. Drain well.
- Add it to a pan with 2 cups water. Let it come to a boil stirring occasionally. Cover with a lid and cook on medium to low heat for 10-15 minutes until the quinoa is done. Remove to a flat dish and allow it to cool completely.
- Heat 2 tbsp sesame oil in a pan. Add in mustard seeds (sarson), chana dal (split chickpea), and urad dal (split black gram). Mix. My kitchen is a nut-free kitchen. If you are using peanuts, add them now.
- Add whole red chillies broken into two, curry leaves, and asafoetida (hing). Saute until the dals begin to colorize.
- Next, add in chopped green chillies and ginger.
- Now add in the boiled quinoa along with turmeric powder (haldi) and salt or to taste. Mix well. Cover with a lid and let it cook for a minute or two.
- Turn off the heat. Finish with lemon juice and chopped green coriander leaves. Mix well. Check the salt and add more if required.
- The Nut-Free Lemon Quinoa Pulihora is ready to serve. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.
Video
Notes
- Make sure the cooked quinoa is room temperature and not hot or it can stick.
- White quinoa works best for this recipe.
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This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Mads’ Cookhouse.
Priya Singh
March 30, 2024 @ 1:02 pm
Wow, this Nut-Free Lemon Quinoa Pulihora recipe sounds like a delightful twist on a classic dish! I love how you’ve incorporated quinoa, a superfood, into this traditional southern Indian staple.
Plus, it’s gluten-free and vegan, making it accessible to a wide range of dietary preferences.
Thanks for sharing this nutritious and delicious recipe! I can’t wait to give it a try.
Madhu
April 4, 2024 @ 2:26 pm
Thank you so much. Do try it out 😊
Ambica Gulati
March 31, 2024 @ 8:52 am
That’s one cool gluten-free, healthy dish! Really up my sleeve. I also checked the traditional Pulihora after your post as I didn’t recall ever having this. Will add to my snackand breakfast list.
Madhu
April 4, 2024 @ 2:21 pm
Thank you so much. Do try it out 😊
Janaki
April 1, 2024 @ 5:36 pm
As a south Indian, we often get to have lemon rice and lemon sevai. But never knew it could be made with Quinoa. Thanks aunty for this healthy version.
Madhu
April 4, 2024 @ 2:40 pm
Thank you so much Beta. Do try it out 😊
felicia
April 1, 2024 @ 11:04 pm
Whoa, quinoa in a South Indian dish? That’s a new one for me! But it sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing this unique recipe! Always down to try something different.
Madhu
April 4, 2024 @ 2:40 pm
Thank you so much. Do try it out 😊
Preeti Chauhan
April 2, 2024 @ 12:44 pm
Madhu Aunty, So far I only made quinoa salads and to be honest, those bowls were too boring for my Indian palate. I like this Pulihora version far better.Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Madhu
April 4, 2024 @ 2:46 pm
Thank you so much Beta. Do try it out 😊
Swati Mathur
April 9, 2024 @ 11:46 pm
Quinoa is super healthy and highly nutritional. I haven’t tried it but would love to as it is easy and quick apt for a breakfast. I always fall short when it comes to breakfast recipes and this is definitely going to be my go to recipe for sure.
Madhu
April 18, 2024 @ 11:25 am
Thank you so much. Do try it out 😊
Kaveri Chhetri
April 3, 2024 @ 10:02 am
My husband’s brother loves Quinoa and that’s his dinner basically. I will share your recipe with him as he keeps making it the same way and it’s so boring.
Your recipe is so refreshing Madhu Ma’am. It has made the boring Quinoa come alive.
Madhu
April 4, 2024 @ 7:08 pm
Thank you so much. Do try it out 😊
Neha Sharma
April 3, 2024 @ 2:18 pm
I tried quinoa once but I didn’t like the taste. This recipe sounds interesting, I’ll give it a try.
Madhu
April 4, 2024 @ 7:07 pm
Thank you so much. Do try it out 😊
Samata
April 3, 2024 @ 4:02 pm
Mam is it a modified version of south Indian lemon rice? The look is very similar to that although its very clear that its not rice. Considering its nutrition parameters all I can say besides great taste this recipe will add that needed fiber in the diet which can help many with gut related problems. My Father in law is having huge guts problem and if anything is prepared good he dont mind taking. So I will share the recipe with Mom in law let’s see if can make it for her to serve papa. Thanks for the recipe as always outstanding.
Madhu
April 4, 2024 @ 7:06 pm
Thank you so much for your kind words 😊
Anjali
April 4, 2024 @ 7:51 pm
I really enjoy preparing Nut-Free Lemon Quinoa Pulihora, and my daughter loves eating it too. However, I’ve never tried making it with chana dal; I’ve always used moong dal instead. Will surely going to try this.
Madhu
April 5, 2024 @ 10:41 am
Thank you so much. Do try it out 😊
Manali
April 6, 2024 @ 12:23 pm
I’ve never tried making a dish myself with quinoa. This recipe seems simple and not only that it seems to have great nutritional value as well. Thank you for sharing this Madhu ji
Madhu
April 7, 2024 @ 6:48 am
Thank you so much. Do try it out 😊
Sivaranjini Anandan
April 6, 2024 @ 9:38 pm
Lemon rice with quinoa this must be tasty I guess but I have tried a variety of millets but this is a new thing to me.
Madhu
April 7, 2024 @ 6:48 am
Thank you so much. Do try it out 😊
Neeta Kadam
April 7, 2024 @ 12:02 am
So quinoa is like a rice only. I never saw it in real yet. Saw on reels and YouTube. Your quinoa pulav look tempting just like a lemon I guess. But it is nut free. Simple yet healthy and easy.
Madhu
April 18, 2024 @ 11:22 am
Thank you so much. Do try it out 😊
Ritu Bindra
April 7, 2024 @ 1:00 pm
Yummy in my tummy! Two of my favorites in one dish. I can have it by the platefuls without feeling guilty. Looking forward to having this again soon.
Madhu
April 18, 2024 @ 11:21 am
Thank you so much Kiddo 😊
Raghav
April 7, 2024 @ 2:19 pm
Quinoa is a big yes for sure. But I really love the crunch that nuts bring along. So I want to add a little bit of my own twist to this one.
Madhu
April 18, 2024 @ 11:20 am
Thank you so much. You can add nuts.I don’t because my kitchen is a nut free kitchen
Harjeet Kaur
April 7, 2024 @ 11:29 pm
Quinoa pulihora! Wow! I have made millet or semiya pulihora but this is a novel, recipe, Madhuji. Thank you for sharing. Will surely try it as I love pulihora but quinoa is something I don’t relish.
Madhu
April 18, 2024 @ 11:16 am
Thank you so much Harjeet. Do try it out 😊
Sindhu
April 11, 2024 @ 1:22 am
Pulihora is one of my favourites and making it using quinoa is truly amazing. I’m definitely trying this out
Madhu
April 18, 2024 @ 11:24 am
Thank you so much. Do try it out 😊
Shifali
April 11, 2024 @ 5:52 pm
Honestly, I heard the name for the first time and it was a bit difficult to understand the essence of it. But the recipe seems to be simple and easy. I would like to try this for sure.
Madhu
April 18, 2024 @ 11:32 am
Thank you so much. Do try it out 😊
Ishieta
April 12, 2024 @ 4:06 pm
This is a nice recipe. I usually only have Quinoa as an alternative to rice, so this will be a nice way to change that up and make it yummy too 🙂
Madhu
April 18, 2024 @ 11:31 am
Thank you so much. Do try it out 😊
Noor Anand Chawla
April 28, 2024 @ 10:23 pm
This is quite unique. Never thought of making lemon rice with quinoa!
Madhu
May 2, 2024 @ 3:53 pm
Thank you so much Noor 😊