Pre soak the lentils overnight or for at least 5 hours to speed up the cooking process. Wash and rinse the soaked lentils before using.

In a pan, heat the oil at medium heat then add the spices, ginger, garlic and onions. Frying the spices and pepper helps to release their aroma

Add 1/4 cup of water to further cook the onions to let them soften and also to make sure the pan is not drying out.

When the onions are soft, add 1 cup of water and lentils and let the lentils cook for 15 minutes. Make sure to fully cover the pan and cook at medium temperature

After 15 minutes, add the quinoa and 1 and 1/2 cup of water, then taste the sauce to make sure there is enough salt.

Cover the pan well and cook the quinoa for 18-20 minutes at low-medium heat.

After, turn off the heat and let the quinoa stand for 5 minutes, still covered, to cool down. This allows the quinoa to be extra fluffy.

The pilau is ready. When you finally remove the cover, you will smell a rich and earthy fragrance that will have your taste buds tingling to taste the pilau

Use a spoon to fluff up the quinoa

Serve with some greens or a salad

This stores really well in the fridge for up to a week