Dedicated to Discovery. Committed to Care.

Recipe of the Month

Quick Lemon & Garlic Quinoa Salad

Photo of Quinoa

Ingredients

Salad
  • 1 cup dry quinoa
  • 8 cups water
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • 1/2 cup carrots, chopped
  • 1/3 cup parsley, minced
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
Dressing
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons tamari or shoyu

Directions:

  1. Rinse quinoa with warm water and drain through a fine strainer.
  2. Place quinoa in 3-quart pan and dry-roast on low heat (about 5-8 minutes)
  3. Stir grains constantly until they begin to change color and give off a nutty aroma
  4. Bring water to boil in a large pot
  5. Add salt and toasted quinoa to boiling water.
  6. Boil for 10-12 minutes.
  7. Remove from heat and drain quinoa through a large strainer (in the same way you would prepare pasta)
  8. Prepare dressing and place in a large bowl
  9. Add carrots, seeds, and parsley
  10. Add cooked quinoa and toss well
  11. Serve at room temperature or chilled

Preparation time:

15-20 minutes

Yield

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Source:

Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair

Back to Nutrition Services

Recipe Archive

Quinoa: A Veritable SuperGrain

Quinoa is a unique whole grain, which was a staple food of the Incas in South America. In fact, quinoa is not really a grain, but the seed of a leafy plant that's distantly related to spinach. Quinoa has an excellent nutritional profile. It has high levels of protein (11 grams of protein per 1/2 cup dry), a trait it shares with other "non-true" grains such as buckwheat and amaranth.

Quinoa contains more iron than other grains and contains high levels of potassium and riboflavin, as well as other B vitamins: B6, niacin, and thiamin. It is also a good source of magnesium, zinc, copper, and manganese, and has some folate (folic acid). An ancient grainlike product that has recently been "rediscovered" in this country, quinoa has a light, delicate taste, and can be substituted for almost any other grain. It is also a snap to cook–usually done in 10-12 minutes when cooked like pasta in boiling water on the stovetop.