My first Quinoa

It's been a while, my husband's health, crazy running around... now he is back home and recovering and we need to focus back on eating at home and planning meals. It's amazing what you take for granted (like a normal dinner time), when it's taken away from you. So now, we are back enjoying some healthy nutritious things and making meal time wholesome and good.

So I present to you my first ever Quinoa salad. I found a recipe that included tons of veggies.

You know that Quinoa is a wonder food! It has so much protein and fibre, just check out a 3/4 cup portion.

148 calories, 5.4g protein, 3.5g fiber

Here's the recipe I worked with. Delicious and quite lemony fresh.

Quinoa Colour Salad

(Courtesy of : Michael Smith, http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/quinoa-colour-salad/recipe.html?dishid=8553)

Yield : 6

Ingredients

    1 cup quinoa

    2 cups water

    pinch salt

    1 carrot, peeled and grated

    1 red pepper, seeded and diced

    1 cucumber, washed and sliced

    3 green onions, sliced thinly

    1 bunch parsley, chopped

    The zest and juice of 1 lemon

    1/4 cup olive oil

    Salt and pepper

Directions:

Rinse the quinoa well in cold running water. This will easily rinse away the natural bitter coating on the seeds. Drain and toss into a small pot. Add the water and season with salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cover with a tight fitting lid, turn the heat to low and simmer until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.    
Meanwhile get all the colorful veggies ready. Toss them into a bowl and when the quinoa is done, add it as well. Add the lemon and olive oil, toss well, season with salt and pepper and serve.

 

Beautifully served with a roasted chicken and sauteed haricot vert.