Southwest Quinoa Salad - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

MiladyB · 06-08-2009, 06:10 PM

Southwest Quinoa Salad

2 cups uncooked red quinoa
4 cups water or chicken broth
1 c black beans, drained and rinsed
1 roma tomato seeded and diced
1/2 c (total) red and green bell pepper, seeded and diced small (or use fresh jalapeno seeded and diced small)
1/4 c red onion, diced small
2 TB (or to taste) fresh cilantro, chopped

Dressing:

3 TB lite mayo
1/4 c (or to taste) red wine vinegar
1 tsp taco seasoning
1 clove garlic
Sea Salt
Fresh Ground Pepper

Cook quinoa in water or broth according do directions. Allow to cool completely in the refrigerator. Once cooled, add black beans, roma tomato, bell peppers (and jalapeno if using), red onion and cilantro. Mix all dressing ingredients, stirring until smooth and add to quinoa mixture. Allow to sit in fridge for one hour prior to serving to allow all flavors to blend.

Another variation:

Quinoa Salad

2 cups uncooked quinoa
4 cups water or chicken broth
1/2 cucumber seeded and diced small
1/2 c red & yellow bell peppers seeded and diced small
2-3 green onions, sliced
2 TB (or to taste) fresh cilantro, chopped

Dressing:
3 TB Lite Mayo
1/4 c (or to taste) rice wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
sea salt
fresh ground pepper

cook quinoa in water or broth according do directions. Allow to cool completely in the refrigerator. Once cooled, add cucumber, bell peppers, green onions and cilantro. Mix all dressing ingredients, stirring until smooth and add to quinoa mixture. Allow to sit in fridge for one hour prior to serving to allow all flavors to blend.

sherry7 · 06-08-2009, 06:39 PM

This sounds good Beth! I bought some quinoa a couple of months ago and just simmered it in chicken broth...it didn't taste so great. Maybe I'll try this with the remainder of the package.

MiladyB · 06-08-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherry7

This sounds good Beth! I bought some quinoa a couple of months ago and just simmered it in chicken broth...it didn't taste so great. Maybe I'll try this with the remainder of the package.

I've used Quinoa a couple of times, Sherry. Before cooking you need to soak and rinse it. Here are some directions to preparing it:

Cooking Directions:

Soak the quinoa first for 15 min - 1/2 hour in it's cooking pot. Soaking loosens up the outer coating of saponin, which can give a bitter taste if not removed.

If you don't have time for long soaking, use hot water and soak for five minutes, then give an extra rinse or two

To Rinse: Stir the quinoa with your hand, and carefully pour off the rinsing water, using a seive at the last.

Put the quinoa back in the pot, add more water, and rinse again once or twice, until the rinse water is pretty clear

Drain quinoa well in the seive.

Place quinoa in the pot, add the water & salt.

Bring to a boil, cover with a tight fitting lid, and turn the heat down to simmer.

Cook for 20 minutes.

Remove from heat and allow to sit five minutes with lid on.

Fluff gently with a fork and serve. Quinoa is delicious on it's own or in any of the recipes below