Andria Perry
Quinoa Salad – Cold summer salad, fast and easy.
Several years ago I found out about this grain, Quinoa. It was all new to me and I wanted to try it out. I bought 1/2 pound from the local grocer and found it cooked easy and fast!
It was the two parts water to one part grain ratio so there is no guessing if it would be hard or mush.
On its on it tasted different and not bad at all. So I began to use it instead of noodles and rices for many of my cold summer dishes.
I am about to share one dish I usually use rotini in but found that it works as good if not better with quinoa.
You will need to make quinoa salad :
1/2 cup quinoa
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 – cucumber
1 medium size tomato
1/2 cup sliced black olives
Basil – fresh or dried
1/4 teaspoon garlic podwer
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup White wine vinegar
Feta cheese (optional)
Let`s make this delicious salad :
Being the water and salt to boil over medium heat in a sauce pan, add quinoa, mix.
Return to a rolling boil., remove from heat and cover with a tight fitting lid.
In a bowl mix the vinegar and olive oil with a whisk till mixed, add the garlic powder and whisk more.
Allow the sliced black olives to drain.
Chop the cucumber and tomato, add to the vinegar/ oil mixture. Stir.
When the quinoa has absorbed all the water its ready to add to the cucumber and tomato mixture.
Add olives, fresh chopped basil and feta cheese if using ( for dry basil use a teaspoon)
Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
This quinoa salad last days in the fridge with a tight fitting lid.
Now that is how I like to do summertime salads.
By Andria Perry
Photos By Andria Perry
I like cold things to eat in the summer already. I have never heard of quinoa. Not sure if we have something to substitute here instead of using that.
This looks interesting to me.
Its awesome, especially in this hot weather.
I have never tried quinoa, maybe I should.
Yes, I doubted it and its really good.
It is! and its cold so its refreshing in the summer.
Maybe you`ll share some of your recipes? 😉
Such a beautiful recipe .Hope it is good to eat as well.
Yes it is, I do not share a recipe I have not made and ate myself.
Your photo is lovely. I like quinoa very much and grow it as a salad green as well as cooking the seeds. Thank you for a beautiful post, Andria.
Wow, I never thought about growing it.
Quinoa which is a cool weather crop and Amaranth which is a warm weather crop are similar. The one I like best is from Evergreen called Tender Green Amaranth.
http://www.evergreenseeds.com/edamtenleaf.html
I grown mine indoors in water to keep the seeds from broadcasting all over the neighborhood because when they get ripe they shoot out of the plant like little bullets.
Wow that is so cool, thanks!
I love Quinoa. I discovered when my mother was sick and could not eat much of anything.
I went vegan and I ate it a lot back then, I am not vegan at the moment.
There is something about a salad and the summer. Thanks for the recipe, shall try it!
Its different and nice and cold.
Sounds good to me. I tweeted to pass on the word.
It really is. Thank you so much.
This looks delicious!! I too discovered Quinoa a few years ago from my grandson who is all into healthy eating. I’ve only had it cooked like rice but this is such a great alternative! Thanks for sharing!
It can be a sub for rice!