Multigrain Upma

Yesterday I went home and immediately I started cooking Brown Rice for DD.  I was expecting her to come late so that rice wil be done by then… soooo bad isn’t it? She came but she didn’t want to come home L, she wanted to stay in Arya Anika’s place. So we all stayed in Anika’s place and had food. Only then I came to know Arya Anika’s Grandma is leaving the next day to Seattle and from there she will go back to India. We were planning to invite her for dinner before she leaves, but then she is already leaving. I have no option left out other than inviting the same night.

It is a weekday, totally out of all the vegetables & curd, hardly 3 hours of time for cleaning & cooking. I called DH to get vegetables. It was challenging for me to get things done in such a short period of time. Ok I left Akshaya in Anika’s place and came back home.  Ohhhhh nooooo toys here and there, paper cuttings everywhere, clothes, jackets, what not… I started organizing, parallely thinking of what to do for dinner. For sure no rice for diabetic person. Ok now this is the rough plan

By 7:15 PM finish organizing

By 9 finish cooking the following Menu

MultiGrain(Rolled Oats, Rye, Wheat, Barley) Upma

Walnut Chutney

Aviyal

Rasam

Tofu Poriyal

Brown Rice

Adai when everybody arrives. Glad that I had Adai Batter in the freezer.

Mean time DH came. He helped cutting the onions and Chow Chow(Chayote).

                       

Usually I make just Oats Upma, but this time I tried with Rolled Multigrain Cereal for dinner. DH & our friends enjoyed it soo much. Over and above they appreciated nicely for making healthy dishes. Voowww I felt good about myself. சரி  சரி  போதும் என்னோட சமையல் புராணம்.. ப்ளீஸ் முறைக்காதிங்க ... நிறுத்திட்டேன் .. I'll share the recipe right now.

Ingredients               

Multigrain Cereal ------------> 3 cups

Onions ---------------------> 1 cup

Tomato --------------------> 1 chopped into cubes

Green Chillies --------------> 2 chopped fine

Carrot -----------------------> 1 cup, chopped fine

Cauliflower ------------------> 1 cup small florets

Potato -----------------------> 1/2 cup chopped fine

Cabbage -------------------> 1 cup thinly cut

Turmeric ---------------------> 1 tsp

Chilli Powder -----------------> 1/2 tsp

Salt ---------------------------> A2Y Taste

                       

Seasoning                  

Mustard Seeds --------------->   1 tsp

Curry leaves ----------------->    1 spring

                       

Procedure                   

v  Mix the grain with less water, but make sure it is enough for soaking. At the same time don't add any extra water and drain it later. After 15 minutes the grain will be soft to touch.                   

v  In a sauté pan, do the seasoning followed by Onions, Green Chillies, Tomatoes, Turmeric, Chilli Powder                  

v  After couple of minutes, add Carrot, Potato, Cauliflower                     

v  When it is half cooked add cabbage                

v  Now add the multigrain + Salt and mix well                

v  Close it with the lid and leave it for few minutes.             

  v  Garnish with Cilantro               

v  Serve it with any chutney. I made Walnut chutney     
                       

Ideas:                    

v    Cook the cereal in the microwave if it is not soft enough for you even after soaking.  Close with the lid while cooking; add very little water if needed.          

Barley & Veggies Medley

On a Sunday after our trip from India, I was not up to the speed to catch up my normal routine even I was bored of cooking. But wanted to make only one dish quickly. So I was surfing the fridge and Pantry. I decided to make something with whole grain Barley, Brown Rice, Black Beans & Veggies. Don’t look at me crazy. Just an experiment and I acted according to my instinct.

                               

Ingredients                       

Barely ---------------------> ½ cup (Whole Grain)

Brown Rice---------------> ½ cup

Black Beans--------------> ½ cup

Pinto Beans--------------> ½ cup

Onion----------------------> 1 cup chopped fine

Green chillies------------> 2 chopped fine

Tomatoes-----------------> 1½ cups Chopped fine

Ginger---------------------> ½ inch minced

Garlic----------------------> 2 Cloves minced

Broccoli-------------------> 2 cup of florets

Zucchini-------------------> 2 cup chopped into cubes

Green Peppers-----------> 2 cup chopped into cubes

Purple Gabbage----------> 1 cup sliced thin (healthier than Green Cabbage)

Chilli Powder-------------> 2 tsp

Cilantro-------------------> ½ cup chopped fine

Salt ------------------------> A2Y taste

For Seasoning                   

Mustard Seeds ---------> 2 tsp

Jeera ----------------------> 2 tsp

                               

Procedure                          

v  Pressure cook Barley, Brown Rice, Beans together or separately. I cooked together first time, but next time onwards I'll cook them separately.

v  In a Saute Pan Pan, add little oil; do the seasoning followed by Onion, Green Chillies, Tomatoes, minced Ginger & Garlic;                  

v  Add Bell Peppers, Broccolli                           

v  When the vegetables are half cooked, add Zucchini, Cabbage and pinch of Chillie powder + Salt according to ur spiciness                  

v  Now add the cooked Barley, Brown Rice & Beans                           

v  Sprinkle Salt if required  and mix it well                 

v  Keep stirring for couple of minutes.                       

v  Garnish with Cilantro                     

                               

The chewy & nutty like texture of Barley & Brown rice supplemented the new medley and tasted like Mexican rice. When I shared with my friends(@ workplace) in lunch and they also liked it very much. I enjoyed it with Walnut & Celery Chutney. Definitely it is a high fiber & protein rich dish and heart healthy for adults+kids provided they like the chewy texture. It is the easiest way to have Barley, Brown Rice and Wheat in our diet.                           

In the next trail I cooked Pinto Beans, Black Beans, Barley separately and mixed with the vegetables. As a whole, the medley came out with good look & taste. 

                      
         

Ideas:                   

Ø  For healthier options, u can even add/replace with Quinoa & Whole Wheat. I would like to try with Couscous & Buck wheatJ.  I’ll post the result after my trial.