Healthy Quinoa, Cherry Tomato & Olive Salad

Since I'm eating lots of plant-based food, I need to be conscious of getting enough complete protein. Quinoa is a great source of a perfect or complete protein. It contains all the amino acids you need. And it's so versatile. Even restaurants are adding quinoa to the menu in place of rice.

The part I like is how easy and fast it is to prepare quinoa.

I think you'll love this salad I came up. Lots of yummy veggies and quinoa plus a dressing with a tinge of sour flavor. I love Kalamata olives. I hope you do too. If not, you can add black olives for a milder taste. And who doesn't love avocado, which this salad also has?

I've eaten it all my itself as a meal. Yes! For dinner! Never be afraid of having it for dinner. It's light. It's healthy. It contains all the nutrition your body needs. Why wouldn't you have it for dinner?

Quinoa, Cherry Tomato & Olive Salad

from Chris Pedersen

yield 4 - 6

category Salad

cuisine Vegan, Vegetarian

ingredients

2 C low-sodium Vegetable broth

1 C rinsed quinoa

1 C quartered cherry tomatos

1 C quartered cucumber slices (persian cucumber is best)

1/2 C quartered Kalamata olives

1 C diced red and yellow pepper

1 Tbsp of minced red onion

1/4 C choppped cilantro

1 avocado, diced

Dressing:

1/3 C red wine vinegar

2 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1 Tbsp raw honey

1/4 C olive oil

1/2 tsp sea salt

directions

1. Prepare quinoa ahead so it can cool: bring vegetable broth to boil in large sauce pan. Add quinoa, stir and turn heat to Low. Place lid on pan with slight opening to vent heat. Secure lid once boiling settles down.

2. When quinoa is done (water is completely absorbed), place in a glass container, cover and refrigerate.

3. Whisk dressing ingredients together then pour into glass salad dressing bottle using a funnel.

4. Once quinoa is cool, mix remaining ingredients together. Add dressing, toss and serve.

notes: • Add more or less veggies according to your taste.

If you don't use all the quinoa for the salad, you can save some for another time or salad. Or your husband can take it for lunch the next day and not tell you—as you frantically search the fridge looking for it. "I'm sure I put it in here. Where did I put it? Oh no! Was I spacey and accidentally leave it in a cabinet." See how husband's make us crazy? Gotta love 'em!

Did you ever leave something in a strange place because you were not paying attention?