Zesty Quinoa Salad with a Southwestern Kick

Zesty Festive Quinoa Salad

Who here likes quinoa? I do! I do! I love how versatile it is. Want a breakfast cereal? Cook yourself some quinoa. Want a warm pilaf side dish? Pull out the rice cooker and make some quinoa. Want a tasty zesty salad full of nutrients and fresh vegetable goodness? Not only is quinoa tasty, nutty, and can be made into almost anything, but as most of you know, it's jam packed FULL of healthy benefits. Plus, you can cook up a big batch and freeze the leftovers. Then when you are running short of time, pull out your frozen quinoa, pop it in the microwave for a minute or two, then prepare it to your tastebuds desire.

Now that summer is upon us and we are FINALLY getting some enjoyable warm nights I have been loving hanging out on the patio while BBQing dinner. Instead of using expensive starchy gluten free pasta for a side I am loving using this mother grain instead. Even the famdamily has been loving the summer quinoa salads.

This has been one of our faves lately and I thought y'all would enjoy it as well ;)



Zesty Quinoa Salad


2 cups cooked Quinoa
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 cup diced radishes
1 red bell pepper diced
1/2 cucumber diced
1/4 cup green onions diced
2 avacados diced


Southwestern Vinaigrette


3 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

In a salad bowl, mix together cooked quinoa, radishes, bell pepper, cucumber, green onions, and lime juice then set aside. In a blender, mix together all ingredients for the vinaigrette. Just prior before serving, top salad with avacado then drizzle dressing on top.