On Stovetop Pot: Cook ½ cup of rinsed quinoa with 1 cup of water over medium-low heat until fully cooked, then allow it to cool.StovetopPressure Cooker: Pressure cook ½ cup of rinsed quinoa with 1 cup of water for two whistles on medium-low heat. Let the pressure release naturally.In Instant Pot (Electric Pressure Cooker): Pressure cook ½ cup of rinsed quinoa with ¾ cup of water on MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK mode for 1 minute. Let the pressure release naturally. Check my blog's detailed recipe for cooking Quinoa in instant pot.
Making Curd Quinoa
Slightly mash the cooked quinoa with a spoon or your hands. Next, add the whisked curd (yogurt), milk, and salt, and mix everything well. Keep it aside.
For Tempering: Heat coconut oil in a pan until it's hot, then add the mustard seeds and let them splutter.Next, add urad dal and cashew nuts, and fry them until they turn light golden brown.
Add the grated ginger, curry leaves, green chilies, and hing (asafoetida). Saute for a few seconds.
Pour the tempering over curd quinoa rice and mix until well combined.Lastly, garnish with grated carrot, and fresh coriander.
Serve chilled and enjoy!
Notes
Tips to Make the Curd Quinoa Recipe
Rinsing Quinoa: Rinse quinoa in water 1-2 times to remove the bitter coating (saponin) from the quinoa.
Overcooking Quinoa: I prefer to cook the quinoa with extra water to achieve a mushy texture, allowing it to blend well with the yogurt.
Freshly Cooked Quinoa: Curd quinoa always tastes the best when prepared with freshly cooked quinoa compared to using leftover quinoa.
Fresh Yogurt: For best results, use fresh homemade yogurt. Avoid using sour curd.
Adding Milk: Helps to prevent sourness if you are preparing the dish in advance.
Cool the Quinoa to Room Temperature: Make sure to cool the quinoa before adding curd, or else it will curdle.
Variations
Vegetables: For extra nutritional value, you may add vegetables like grated carrots, cucumbers, finely chopped raw mango, and fruits like pomegranates or grapes.
Vegan Quinoa Curd Rice: Vegans can use plant-based yogurt and milk alternatives such as almond, coconut, or cashew yogurt.