New Year – New Me!
I am happy to start the year with this awesome feeling of challenging the basic rules of cooking. When I started cooking I always followed rules and recipes and never really created anything or replaced some things to see how they will work out if I did them differently. I’d like us to also challenge ourselves by using the same recipes we have known for years, but replace some ingredients with a better version of that family ingredient.
In this first recipe for the year we will look at making a quick salad for “WORKING – WOMAN – ON – THE – GO” and for those of us that have made “NEW ME – HEALTHIER ME” resolutions.
Quinoa salad
I first came to know of quinoa a couple of years back and at the time never thought I will eat this seed as it looked too healthy. Today I have quinoa with anything I can possibly think of.
Quinoa is one of the world’s most popular health foods.
Quinoa is gluten-free, high in protein and one of the few plant foods that contain all nine essential amino acids.
It is also high in fibre, magnesium, B-vitamins, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin E and various beneficial antioxidants.
Quinoa salad Recipe
• 250 ml quinoa
• 500ml water
• Chicken stock
• Salt and pepper
• Chopped tomatoes
• Chopped peppers
• Chopped celery
• Chopped cucumber
• Blueberries
• Dried cranberries
• Fresh lemon squeeze
Method
1. Boil water with salt and the chicken stocks/cube
2. When your water gets to boiling point lower it to a simmer, add the quinoa and simmer until the water is all absorbed or the hairs of the quinoa come out.
3. While that is simmering. Chop all remaining ingredients and set aside.
4. Once the quinoa is done set aside and cool off.
5. When your quinoa is cool combine all ingredients and serve chilled.
I serve my quinoa as part of the snack or include it as a side dish on the dinner table.
Fun way to serve it will be with baked chicken, and a side of greens. You may also have it in wraps and pitta bread.
Till our next Recipe Adorners!
Chef and Managing Director of Dilettivents – Steven Myeni
Facebook – Steven Myeni