Quinoa tabooli salad
When I think about quinoa, I’m thinking light yet satisfyingly filling yet not bloating, wholesome to the point where I feel great after eating it, and I’m thinking, so deliciously versatile to cook with.
We all love eating quinoa in our house and that sits very well with me because it is one of the most nutrient dense grains in the world. It’s an amazing source of plant protein, and is also one of the few plant foods which contain all nine essential amino acids and not only that but rich in fibre, magnesium, B vitamins, iron, potassium, calcium, Vit E and antioxidants. Whoa!! Helloooo superfood!
This ancient grain has been a huge staple for over five thousand of years, how is it that it only became widely known and somewhat trendy in Australia in recent years? Who cares? let’s just eat it and eat lots of it!
This recipe is a delicious way to incorporate quinoa and veggies which the little ones will love in a light and summery dish.
Recipe serves 4 - 6 as a side dish
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time 25 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
1 large carrot, finely grated
1 large tomato or two regular size, chopped
1 small red capsicum, finely diced
1/2 bunch Italian parsley, very finely chopped
1/4 cup sultanas
1/2 tsp sumac*
2 tsp hemp seeds
Juice of one lemon
3 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
Method:
Rinse the quinoa very well in a sieve under clean running water until the water runs clear and the quinoa feels clean and not soapy. Combine the quinoa and 2 cups of water in a medium sized saucepan with a lid and bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low and cook for 25 minutes until all of the water has been absorbed, return the cooked quinoa to a clean sieve and run under cold water to cool down and allow to drain, or chill in the fridge on a flat tray until cold.
Combine the cooled quinoa in a large mixing bowl with the finely grated carrot, tomato, capsicum, parsley, sultanas, sumac and hemp seeds. Season to taste with sea salt and cracked pepper if using and dress with the olive oil and lemon juice, toss all together to combine.
