Baked Garlic Cheddar Turkey with Fried Quinoa

I think this recipe would have been appropriate for Thanksgiving. The turkey patties are perfectly cooked to make the Thanksgiving dinner turn special with friends and family singing praises of your culinary skill. However, since Thanksgiving is a few months away now, this can be cooked to make an ordinary day turn special. In case if turkey patties are not available, then chicken patties can be used too and if neither chicken patties nor turkey patties are available, then minced chicken can be used and molded into the shape of patties. 

Those who have not heard of quinoa before, allow me to give a short introduction of the same. Quinoa is essentially a pseudocereal known for its nutritious edible seeds. High in protein and low in gluten content, quinoa has an array of nutritious values. It is a rich source of dietary minerals and vitamins. Just like rice, it has a neutral taste and it goes well with Indian dishes. In the recipe below, I have cooked quinoa in the same fashion as poha. Personally, I have switched to quinoa in my quest for a substitute of rice. Unlike rice that causes water retention, the high potassium content in quinoa helps decrease water retention. Since I put on a lot of weight during pregnancy, I was desperate to get back into my pre-pregnancy body, but I wanted to lose weight in a healthy way. I don't believe in starving myself to lose weight, so I brought some healthy changes to my food plan and shifting to quinoa is one of them.  Ever since I have imbibed quinoa in my diet, I have become one of its big proponents. 

Baked turkey patties and quinoa form a nice gourmet combination ideal for special occasions. Hope you and your loved one will enjoy it. 



Turkey Recipe

Ingredients                                          Time: 35 minutes

• 4 raw turkey patties
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 tsp dried basil leaves
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp tandoori masala
• 1/2 tsp Weber kick'n chicken seasoning (you can use any type of chicken seasoning)
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 3 tbsp butter
• Salt to taste

Method

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)
2) Melt the butter and put aside.
3) In a mixing bowl, mix all the ingredients together except butter and turkey.
4) Dip the turkey patty into the melted butter so that butter sticks on both sides. Then roll it in the breadcrumb mixture.
5) Line a baking dish with aluminum foil and place the coated turkey patties in the baking dish. Drizzle the remaining butter on top and top the patties with the remnants of breadcrumb mixture, if there is any left.
6) Bake 25 minutes in the oven until top is browned and turkey is cooked through. 

Fried Quinoa Recipe
Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
• 1 small potato (thinly sliced)
• 50 gm green peas (frozen)
• 50 gm green beans (chopped)
• 1 1/2 tbsp peanuts
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 string of curry leaves
• 1/2 tsp black mustard seeds
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp ground black pepper OR 2 green chillies (chopped)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Method

1) Heat oil in a non-stick cooking vessel. Add black mustard seeds and curry leaves when oil becomes smoking hot.  Let the ingredients crackle.
2) Add potatoes, green beans and peanuts. Stir fry for 5 minutes. If the mixture becomes dry, you may add a few splashes of water to retain the moist.
3) Add the frozen green peas, salt and green chillies or black pepper, whichever using, and stir.
4) Cook covered for 2 minutes. When the potatoes are cooked through, add the quinoa and stir well.
5) Cook covered, stirring in between, for 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle lemon juice before serving hot.