This salad could turn me into a vegetarian.
Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-WA) is an ancient grain packed with protein and other great health benefits. Why don't you eat it more often?
I used some beautiful black quinoa from Great Grains (which I dearly love). In this recipe you toast the quinoa for 6 minutes or so until you hear it pop and get fragrant, it makes a difference in the taste, for that reason it is important that you use PRE_WASHED quinoa. Very pretty contrast with the greens. I had it for lunch 3 days in a row. Good warm, room temp or chilled. It was that yummy. Hope you try it.
Quinoa Salad w/ Spinach, Parsley, Spring Onions and Chives1 1/2 cups of quinoa
2 1/2 cups of vegetable or chicken stock
2 dried bay leaves
6 scallions, white parts only, sliced thin
1/3 cup of minced chives
5 oz. of fresh spinach, cut into chiffonade
Dressing:
big handful of fresh flat leaf parsley (about 1.5 cups)
juice of a whole lemon (save the rind for the zest)
4 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp sea salt
Mix the dressing ingredients in a mini chopper or food processor, until it resembles a loose pesto. Taste and season w/ salt if needed.
In a 12" heavy skillet, lay out the quinoa and toast it dry, for about 6 minutes, until it starts to pop and get fragrant.
While the quinoa is toasting, bring the stock to a boil with the bay leaves in a heavy saucepan. Add the toasted quinoa to the stock and turn down the heat. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed.
Add the quinoa, scallions, chives and dressing to a bowl and toss. Add in the spinach leaves and mix together.
Garnish with lemon zest and serve either warm or chilled.
RECIPES