MEGA BLOGGING MARATHON -SEPT 2017
#80TH BLOGGING MARATHON
THEME: PROTEIN RICH DISHES – DAY:13
RECIPE: QUINOA LAPSI
Quinoa Lapsi is a gluten free version of the traditional Gujarati sweet dish, lapsi. It is not only rich in protein but healthy with the addition of nuts, dried fruits and jaggery. This lapsi is totally suitable for those who follow a gluten free diet or if you want to create a new kind of dessert for your guests. Best enjoyed warm.
Memories
As many of you know my blog is not just for recipes but also where I put down my thoughts, events, celebrations, etc. So writing about plastic ban had to be done.
Plastic and The World
Plastic is becoming a mega concern world over as the land and oceans are getting littered with this ‘we love to use it so much’ product. Low production cost, easy to manufacture, versatile,impervious to water, easily moldable, has made this product so popular world over that its used right from pins heads to space ships. It has replaced wood, metal, glass, ceramic, paper, stone, leather, etc.
However, misuse of plastic has caused it to become as one of the major environmental threats to the world. Its alarming that minute particles are making their way to our food. Both land and sea animals are ingesting plastic and this in turn is landing up on our plates.
Kenya and Plastic Ban
From Monday 28th August 2017, Kenya put into action its total ban on plastic bags. A grace period of few weeks was given to the citizens but from now onwards anyone who will manufacture, sell or use plastic bag will be sentenced to jail for 4 years or will be fined $40,000/- Its one of the world’s toughest law on plastic ban. Other African nations to ban plastic bags are Rwanda, Tanzania, Eritrea, Mauritania and Morocco.
I’m all for this ban on plastic bags. I remember years back when my father in law would go to the market to buy fruits and vegetables, no one would give plastic bags. Everything was dumped into the baskets and we would separate it at home. Or sometimes he would carry the cloth bags.
Whenever I go to shop at the supermarket, I would insist that I didn’t want plastic bags and I’d get stared at. It will take a while for the Kenyans to get use to without plastic bags but already people are finding alternatives. Women who weave beautiful baskets or kikapus as they are called, will now earn some money for their handicraft.
A Bit About Quinoa Lapsi
Today’s Protein Rich Dish is a quinoa lapsi. I had to share a Gujarati recipe for this Mega Marathon. However, I’ve already got the usual dokhra, kadhi, khandvi, handvo on my blog so had to think of something different. The whole idea came about when I was craving for some lapsi which I simply love. However, I didn’t have any dalia or cracked wheat at home and then I thought why not use quinoa.
I’m so glad I made this lapsi with quinoa. I loved it. Since a lot of people now use quinoa on fasting days, this lapsi is surely a sweet treat.
What is Lapsi?
Lapsi is a typical Gujarati sweet made from cracked wheat or dalia, stir fried in ghee. Water is added to cook it and lastly sugar, nuts and cardamom powder are added. We usually make lapsi on auspicious days. Lapsi is made during the start of any festival like Diwali or weddings. My mum would often make lapsi as the whole family loves it.
For this Quinoa Lapsi, I added chopped dried apricots as its the only fruit that is rich in protein. Fresh apricots are not protein rich.I added a bit of ghee to give it that authentic lapsi taste. A bit more healthier than the normal lapsi as in that we use quite a bit of ghee to roast the cracked wheat.
Protein Sources in this recipe are quinoa, dried apricot, nuts and ghee.
My Protein Rich Dishes so far:
- Mixed Dal Paddu
- Fruit and Nut Yogurt Parfait
- Moong and Spinach Muthia
- Paneer Tikka and Naan Bites
- Veggie Shepherd’s Pie
- Nectarine and French Bean Quinoa Salad
- Tofu Wraps
- Sai Bhaji
- Veg Protein Burrito Bowl
- Palak Pakodi Chaat
- Phyllo Cheesecake Cups
- Garlicky Broccoli Quinoa
By no means am I claiming or supporting any sort of fad diet that are the latest craze in the fitness world. I’m just trying to include non meat non fish dishes from which you can get your protein source.
QUINOA LAPSI
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2-2½ cups water
- ¼ cup grated jaggery or jaggery powder
- 2 tbsp dried apricot finely chopped
- 1 - 2 tsp ghee optional
- ¼ cup almonds and pistachios chopped
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
Instructions
- Wash the quinoa in a sieve under running water 3-4 times.
- Add the quinoa into a saucepan.
- Add water and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Lower the heat and let the quinoa cook till its done. This will take about 15- 20 minutes.
- When little water is left in the mixture add the jaggery powder.
- Stir till the jaggery dissolves.
- Add the chopped dried apricots.
- Cook the quinoa till all the water evaporates.
- Add cardamom powder and chopped nuts.
- Add ghee on top and mix and serve hot quinoa lapsi with roti and curry. I love to have it on its own.
Notes
- Adding ghee on top is optional.
- If you don't get dried apricot add raisins. I added them to make it into a protein rich dish.
- Using less jaggery works well for us, but if you want it sweeter add more.
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A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
Check out what other Mega Blogging Marathoners have made for Day 13: