A Healthy White Quinoa Salad to Serve Your Gastronomic Senses

It is true that rice is the staple food of many nations, but, other grains or seeds are healthy and tasty too. Alternative options such as White Quinoa, barley and amaranth can substantially add a nutritious diversity to your family. This summer, you can try for eating healthier and lighter meals with lots of salads.

White Quinoa: The Contemporary ‘Superfood’

Well, all food items which have been touted as ‘superfoods’ might not come with so much nutritional advantages. However, quinoa is regarded as a rich source of nutrients, which is consumed as an alternative to rice. It is very easy to prepare and goes well with all kinds of veggies including rice, chickpeas, lentils and seeds of sunflower, pumpkin or other kinds of seasonal vegetables.

Following here are two appetizing ideas of quinoa salads. The first preparation is quite straightforward, which is partnered with lentils for offering a texture of earthy base to it. Combined with the pistachios’ crunch, the chewy, sweet cranberries and lots of fresh herbs, it brings a great sense of flavor and texture.

Puy Lentil & Quinoa Salad

Ingredients required:

• 90 gm Quinoa

• 60 gm Lentils

• 20 gm pistachio (roughly crushed and toasted)

• 35 gm dried cranberries

• Some mixed herb leaves like basil, dill, chervil

• Some mixed salad leaves

• 1 clove garlic (crushed)

• Zest of a half lemon

• 25 ml white wine vinegar (good quality)

• 45 ml of olive oil

• Pepper & salt (as per taste)

Process

At first, you need to rinse the quinoa and drain it by using a sieve. Then, place it in the saucepan containing water, which is of double the total amount of quinoa present in it. Bring it to boil and after that, turn the heat down to simmer. Cover the pan for around 10 minutes or a bit longer and thereafter, taste the quinoa. It must be tender enough by now. After cooking, you will notice that the grains have become translucent and moreover, the white germ has been detached itself partially. Thereafter, drain it completely. Rinse it with cold water and spread on tray, thereby allowing it to cool.

During the meantime, place lentils in another saucepan, thereby covering it completely with cold water. Cook it for a span of at least 15 mins. After being cooked, they must be tender enough. Drain and rinse them with cold water, thereby allowing it to cool.

Now, mix white wine vinegar, olive oil and crushed garlic and whisk to combine them well. Thereafter, add lemon zest to it and spread salt to it as per taste. Combine the lentils, dried cranberries and white quinoa, thereby drizzling them over the dressing. Mix them well and after that, add a bit of lemon juice, some more olive oil along with some more seasoning. Mix the herbs, pistachios and mixed leaves. Finally, place it well on a platter with some more lemon zest and added chopped herbs as topping.

Maria Gonzalez is a nutritionist working with Natural Products Azteca.