Quinoa Salad With Tomatoes And Avocado
If you haven’t jumped on the quinoa bandwagon yet, this salad might be a great start. Quinoa has been cultivated for thousands of years and although it is often categorized as a grain, it is actually the small seed of a plant in the same family as beets and spinach. The seed is disc shaped with a band around it that becomes obvious once it has been cooked. It is a fast cooking grain and can be ready in about 15 minutes. Unlike most grains, quinoa is considered a complete protein containing all the necessary amino acids. It is also a great source of fiber, and a decent source of iron, magnesium, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin E.
Quinoa is a very versatile grain and can be used as a breakfast cereal, tossed into salads, stirred into soups or baked goods, and even formed into patties. Quinoa is now readily available in many grocery stores and comes in a variety of colors. The quinoa I used here in this salad is a mixed color combination sold together. This salad is one I make often, using different ingredients depending on what I have on hand. In this version I used cherry tomatoes, green onions, cucumbers, and avocados, along with a bunch of chopped parsley and mint. In the past I have added edamame, chopped red peppers, or canned chickpeas to this salad as well. Pine nuts or sliced almonds are also great additions to this salad.
- Quinoa (aka Super Seed) is a gluten free seed that provides a complete protein as well as iron, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, vitamin E, and folic acid.
- Avocados contain the mono- and polyunsaturated “good” fats that are recommended as part of a healthy diet.
- Tomatoes are a source of vitamin A, vitamin C, dietary fiber and a great source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.
Quinoa Salad With Tomatoes And Avocado
Yield: Serves 4
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Ingredients:
2 1/2 Cups Vegetable Stock
1 1/2 Cups Quinoa Of Choice
1 Cup Chopped Cherry Tomatoes
1 Medium Avocado, Diced
6 Green Onions, Chopped
3/4 Cup Diced Cucumber
1/3 Cup Chopped Fresh Parsley Leaves
4 Tablespoons Chopped Fresh Mint
Dressing:
1 Teaspoon Grated Ginger
2 Tablespoons Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper To Taste
Directions:
Put the broth and quinoa in a pot and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat, and cook covered over low heat, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes.
Remove from the heat and allow to come to room temperature.
Place the quinoa, tomatoes, onions, cucumber, parsley, and mint in a bowl and toss well.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients, and pour over the quinoa mixture and stir to mix.
Serve immediately.
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love your recipes, just what my mother cooked, just found your page, the problem is just i person, love to cook your recipes, will have to cut it down, hope I can do it, thanks for your beautiful recipes.
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