Balsamic and Herb Quinoa Salad

Description

Serve this cold salad as a delicious summer side to your favorite grilled meat or try it alone as a great light lunch. I have been experimenting a lot with quinoa recently, and this is by far my favorite recipe. It’s such a nice, healthy alternative to pasta and rice!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
  • ½ cup frozen baby lima beans
  • water to cover
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • ⅓ cup slivered almonds
  • 3 Campari tomatoes, diced
  • 2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions
  • 2 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into small chunks
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons almond oil
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Bring 2 cups water
  2. quinoa
  3. and bouillon granules to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low
  4. cover
  5. and simmer until quinoa is tender and water has been absorbed
  6. 15 to 20 minutes. Spread quinoa onto a baking sheet and refrigerate until cooled
  7. about 30 minutes. Rinse the saucepan.
  8. Place lima beans into the saucepan and add water to cover beans by 1 inch; season with salt and pepper. Cover the saucepan with a lid and bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until beans are cooked through but still tender
  9. 3 to 4 minutes. Drain water and rinse beans under cold water to stop the cooking process; refrigerate until cool
  10. about 10 minutes.
  11. Cook and stir almonds in a skillet over medium heat until toasted
  12. about 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from heat and cool almonds to room temperature
  13. about 5 minutes.
  14. Mix quinoa
  15. lima beans
  16. almonds
  17. tomatoes
  18. scallions
  19. and mozzarella cheese together in a large bowl.
  20. Whisk vinegar
  21. almond oil
  22. olive oil
  23. Italian seasoning
  24. basil
  25. garlic
  26. and salt together in a small bowl until smooth; pour over quinoa mixture and stir to coat.

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins

Servings: 4

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