Quinoa is another pantry staple for me. I make several versions of it, serve hot or cold, eat as is or mix with greens or beans, this protein-rich grain is so versatile, breakfast to dinner, meal ideas coming at ya!
But first, what really is quinoa ( /ˈkēnwä/ )? Said to be botanically related to spinach, these little seeds are great source of dietary fiber, B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, iron, protein (containing all nine essential amino acids), among others. Because it’s a staple, I buy it in bulk from Amazon.
The secret to making quinoa pleasing to your gustatory senses lies in the herbs and/or spices you add in while cooking it. On its own, most people say that it taste bitter. But add in the secret, hardly any bitterness, trust me!
Anyway, today I would like to share a very easy and tasty quinoa salad you can include in your meal prep, especially if you are trying to embrace a well-balanced whole food plant-based lifestyle.
Oh and another thing, do you want to make your quinoa look vibrant? then add turmeric powder for color or curry powder (which will make it taste like real curry!). Okay, I’d reserve that for another recipe.
This very easy and tasty quinoa salad is a must- include in your meal preparation, especially if you are trying to embrace a well-balanced whole food plant-based lifestyle.
- 1/2 cup quinoa
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 3 small cucumbers, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 haas avocado, diced
- 6-7 cherry tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 lemon squeeze
- few leaves mint, thinly cut
- Dash himalayan pink salt and pepper
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Cook quinoa per instructions.
Once it starts boiling, add the Italian seasoning (made from basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, and thyme) and onion powder
Reduce heat, simmer and let the water gets absorbed. Fluff with fork every now and then.
Cooked quinoa should be fluffy. On average, it takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
Let it cool.
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In a bowl, mix all the vegetables.
Squeeze lemon and add dash salt and pepper.
Add quinoa.
Refrigerate and serve cold. Otherwise, eat pronto!
Quinoa is gluten-free and this recipe is oil-free. Is vegetable oil bad? while it may look like a healthier version versus animal fat, note that it’s processed and still considered as concentrated fat. Not good if you are trying to lower your bad cholesterol (LDL) and hypertension.
In another note, eat the rainbow for optimal health (read: is vegan healthy?)! Your future self will thank you, whether you are trying to prevent or reverse chronic diseases that continue to plague our nation. With the rising cost of insurance premium and deductible, including medications, co-pays and cost of hospitalization, the only best way to avoid a desolate future is to re-evaluate our lifestyle choices.
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I like quinoa a lot, and love to make salads or side dishes with it. This recipe looks delicious!
Looks really good. I love quinoa for the protein!
Everything sounds good except for the quinoa part. lol. I’ve tried making meals with it before and maybe I was making it bad, I ended upi giving the rest of it away. It was the boil in the bag kind?
You have to add flavor as you cook it. Otherwise it will taste bitter as most people say. I like to make curry out of it and brought it to parties and it was aways a hit. I’d like to make some for you someday!
We aren’t a quinoa family but maybe it’s because of the flavor we notice. This is a beautiful looking recipe.
Flavor your quinoa next time as mentioned in the post. It will definitely change the mindset that quinoa doesn’t taste good
Yum! I eat quinoa when I go out but have yet to make it at home. I think my boys would even enjoy this recipe!
I love cucumber, tomato, and quinoa together. This looks yummy!
I’ve never had quinoa before but I like the tips to add it into my diet!
I’m sure the seasoning is important but I just don’t like the texture of quinoa.
I have’t had quinoa in a long time. I think it’s time to start back with it