Baked Quinoa

Tis is another variation of making quinoa.Here also the grain is first cooked and then used.This is more of Italian because it is baked with toamato pizza sauce and plenty of cheese.Tomato sauce can be made at home or can be store bought.

For Tomato Sauce

Ingredients	Quantity
Blanched Tomatoes	2
Chopped Garlic	1 tbsp
Chopped Onions	1 tbsp
Bay Leaf	1
Chopped Capsicum	1 tbsp
Pepper Powder	1½ tsp
Tomato Ketchup	2 tbsp
Sugar	1 tsp
Dried Oregano	1 tsp
Tomato Puree (optional)	¼ cup
Salt	to taste
Olive Oil	1 tsp

Method

1. Blanch the tomatoes in hot water and remove the skins.Chop the tomatoes into small pieces.


2. Take a pan and add the oil and heat it.Add the bay leaf and onions, chopped garlic and capsicum and fry.


3. Add the tomato pieces,tomato puree,sugar,pepper powder and salt and cook till the quatity becomes less.


4. Lastly add the oregano and remove from the heat.


5. Remove the bay leaf from the sauce.Keep it aside until use.

For Baked Quinoa

Ingredients	Quantity
Quinoa	½ cup
Water	½ cup
Grated Cheddar Cheese	¾ cup
Grated Parmesan Cheese	1 tbsp
Tomato Sauce (as made above)	1½ cup

Method

1. Cook the quinoa either in the pressure cooker or outside in a pan with more water. and keep it aside.


2. Take a baking dish and spread evenly half of the tomato sauce at the bottom.


3. Next spread the cooked quinoa evenly and then the remaining tomato sauce.


4. On the top spread the grated cheddar cheese and sprinkle parmesan cheese over it and bake it in a preheated oven at 250 to 300degrees centigrade first covered with aluminium foil for 15mins and remove the foil and bake it till the cheese melts and turns light brown in colour.


5. Serve it hot with garlic bread and steamed vegetables.