Quinoa Salad Recipe

This is a salad I made for a party, everyone loved it, and a couple of people asked for the recipe.




This is definitely more of a Summer dish.

Ingredients:
1cup Quinoa (pronounced Keen-WAH, it is a seed but tastes and looks like a grain, learn more here )
1 1/2cup organic corn kernels*
1 1/2cup organic black beans*
1cup organic cherry tomatoes*
1 Organic Red Bell Pepper- seeded and chopped small*
4 Organic (not from Mexico) Scallions chopped*
2Tbsp. Minced Garlic*
1/3Cup Lime Juice*
1/4Cup Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (red wine vinegar would work - but raw apple cider has more health benefits)
2Tbsp. Olive Oil*
1tsp. Ground Coriander
1tsp. Cayenne*
Salt to taste
2Tbsp. Ground flax (optional)

*You can add more or less depending on taste, I am not a big recipe user, so each time it's a little different, but always yummy.

Rinse Quinoa in a mesh colander (unless you have a brand that is prewashed). Soak it for at least an hour, but the longer it soaks the shorter the cook time and easier it is to digest (sprouted foods are easier to digest).

Some Quinoa will probably be lost in the soak/rinse/transfer process. Cook it as you would rice (1 cup sprouted quinoa will only need about 1 cup of water to cook), it takes about 12-15 minutes. Keep checking it to see if the water has been absorbed, and be ready to take it off heat early if needed.

Let quinoa cool.

Mix the dressing: Lime juice, olive oil, vinegar, coriander, salt, garlic, cayenne (flax, optional). Taste it and modify to your liking, the tart-ness will mellow once it is spread throughout the salad so if it tastes strong that is probably good.

Chop the veggies, rinse the beans and get the corn and tomatoes ready.

Once the Quinoa is cool, add all of the veggies and beans, toss. Then drizzle the dressing mix over and toss thoroughly.

I personally put the tomatoes on the top at the end so they don't get punctured and those who do not like them can go around. Also, try to not put the tomatoes in the refrigerator before, the coldness breaks down cell walls and makes them mushy.

Enjoy!