Bengali Rainbow Chard Medley- Laal Shager Panchmisali
I am working hard to keep the momentum of cooking going. Next weekend we are expecting special guests. The kind that put a full course Bengali meal on to your table. My kind of Bengali that is. Tradition with a healthy dose of practicality. Such as they Bengali Rainbow Chard Medley.
My Rainbow Chard Medley Story
Another name for a dish like dish is panch mishali or Bengali mixed vegetables come in handy. Panch is five, think Panch phoron or Bengali Five Spice mixture and a panch mishali is a typical mishmash of five vegetables. Actually if you are looking for Bengali recipes, there is always my Bengali Five Spice Chronicles. It is especially appropriate for this time of the year.
Well, the panch mishali I cobbled up is redolent with the seasonal vegetables that are typical for this time of the year. I added in some cooked quinoa for body. It is not uncommon to add in some protein, usually lentils for body and balance. I often have quinoa and similar whole grains, so today it is time for quinoa. I let the quinoa cook in the instant pot, as I did the rest of the prep and it all worked out well. The net result was a beautiful and soulful medley. I did indeed end up with five ingredients counting the quinoa. The young people in the house loved this creation. That often is what makes me a happy mama.
Mother Daughter Love
Deepta has been going out of her way to comment on things that she knows will make me happy. Things that she normally just assumes I know. Ours is a quieter relationship that what I share with my son. A more peaceful one at that. I am however, deeply grateful for a daughter like her. She is motivated, kind, simple and peaceful. What more can I ask for? Every time I walk into her school, I am reminded of how lucky I am. Back to my simple and wholesome creation.
There are two ways to do this, make the quinoa in the Instant Pot, while the doing the rest on the stove top. Alternately, finish the quinoa and then prepare the rest of the dish in the Instant Pot. Either way, you have a winner!
Another recipe with rainbow chard includes this rainbow chard golden rice recipe.
A beautiful fall Bengali vegetable medley with rainbow chard. I add in some quinoa for some good measure.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup quinoa
- 2 tablespoons oil (preferably mustard oil)
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons panchphoron or Bengali Five spice blend
- 2 green chilies, tops removed and lightly slit
- 1 red onion, diced
- 1 potato, peeled and diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 large bunch rainbow chard, leaves and tender stems chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
Instructions
- Place the quinoa in the instant pot with 1/4 cup water and set to 1 minute of cooking and do a quick release.
- In the meantime, heat the oil in a large skillet and add the panchphoron and the green chilies followed by the onion. Saute well until the onion is translucent.
- Add the potato and the carrots. Stir well. Cover and cook on low heat until the vegetables are tender.
- Stir in the chard and the salt and mix well. Cook until the chard has wilted.
- Mix in the quinoa and serve.