For a delicious low carb, healthy, dish give this quick and easy recipe a try.  Make it with cauliflower rice, with quinoa or for that matter even with regular rice!

The inspiration

Hi folks. Is it just me who has become a little lazy because of this quarantine?  Perfect example is how I came up with this recipe last week. 

I needed to pick up a few ingredients for a lunchy type of meal but honestly I was being lazy – I didn’t want to bother going to the grocery store if it meant wearing a mask, standing in line, and then wipe down everything when I came home, so what did I do? 

I rummaged in my freezer for ingredients and found cauliflower rice, frozen artichokes and quinoa and used these three to make a mash up of Mediterranean and Indian flavors.

Mash up of Mediterranean and Indian Pilaf

My daughter Anjali is the one who came up with the name mash up of Mediterranean and Indian Pilaf, because she has never had an Indian dish made with artichokes. 

What makes this an Indian dish is the spices and what makes it Mediterranean are the artichokes. 

Honestly, artichokes are not an Indian vegetable at all. For that matter I had never tasted artichokes until later in life when I moved to California!  As you can see artichokes are not an Indian vegetable but definitely a popular Mediterranean veggie.

I used frozen artichokes which are fresh artichokes cleaned, cut and just the tender hearts of the artichoke that are frozen.

What’s really cool is how meaty artichokes are.  In fact they look like pieces of chicken in my eyes and are just as meaty and chewy.  I do wonder why artichokes aren’t used more often in a veggie burger given their chewy and meaty texture?

As for the the Indian spices I used turmeric and curry powder, but you can easily add cumin powder and coriander powder instead or even garam masala.

Cauliflower rice

Now about the cauliflower rice.  I know this has been all the rage as a low carb substitute for a long time now, but I have resisted.  I don’t eat rice often, in fact I’ve even converted my family into a quinoa family for our common Indian rice dishes, so when I want rice, I just want rice – you get me? 

But being the healthy cook that I am I bought frozen cauliflower rice and had it in the freezer – to be used one day.  It had been there for months with no intention of being used, until now.  I had to use it this time, and guess what folks? This cauliflower rice actually looks like rice! Pretty cool!  How did it taste? Pretty good.

For a delicious low carb, healthy, dish give this quick and easy recipe a try.  Make it with cauliflower rice, with quinoa or for that matter even with regular rice!

Cauliflower Rice with Artichokes and Quinoa
serve 4-6

Ingredients:

• 2 bags cauliflower rice – about 2-3 cups
• 2 bags frozen cooked quinoa (mine has a mix of greens) – about 3 cups
• 1 bag of frozen artichokes about 1 1/2 -2 cups
• 1 onion finely cut
• 2 tsp curry powder (or 1 tsp coriander powder and 1 tsp cumin powder)
• 1 tsp turmeric
• Salt
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• Olive oil
• Cilantro for garnish

Directions:

• Microwave cauliflower rice and quinoa so they are loose and fluffy. Set aside.
• In a large pan heat 3 tbsp olive oil.  Add the onions and cook until tender and slightly browned.  Add all the spices and then the artichokes and mix to coat the veggies.  Cook the artichokes until tender.
• Next add the cauliflower rice and quinoa, salt, and brown sugar. Mix all together and cook covered for 5 minutes to allow the spices to flavor the rice and quinoa.

• Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with a side of yogurt raita or some crunchy papadum or potato chips.