Quick and Easy Quinoa "Salad"...

...Not sure if this actually qualifies as a salad...but It's very similar to those ready packaged little boxes of so-called 'salads' that supermarkets sell...you know, the ones alongside the couscous salad etc...


I have never cooked Quinoa myself before...in fact until about a year ago, I was blissfully unaware that it even existed...until I tasted it (from one of the above little pre-packaged salads) and I was smitten!! I love the texture more than anything else, because it really doesn't have mush of a taste of its own...it is one of those grains that takes on the flavours you put with it...


Anyway...as I have never cooked it before I decided to try it out on myself first, before cooking for the rest of the family...I decided to make my own version of the "salad" I first tried it in...


Here's what I did...


Serves: 1 for lunch or as a side with a main meal...
Ingredients: 
* Quinoa - 70g
* Stock - 140g (veg or chicken both fine...I used chicken)
* Pomegranate seeds - a handful
* Salted peanuts - a handful (optional)
* Spring Onion - 1 chopped very finely
* Frozen peas - a handful - blanched
* Fine Beans - a handful - chopped and blanched
* Red Pepper - a handful, diced
* Fresh Coriander - a few leaves, chopped
* EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) - about 1TBsp
* Sesame oil - about 1/2tsp
* Soy sauce - about 1tsp
* Juice of 1/2 an orange

It was so easy to make...I cooked the quinoa according to the packet instructions, which was to simmer for 8-10 mins in twice its volume of water or stock...I cooked mine for 10 mins and I used chicken stock (140ml)...I started with cold water, and stirred about 1/4 of a stock cube into it as it came to a simmer...Once the time is up, you simply cover the pan and leave until the rest (there won't be much) of the liquid has been absorbed...

Then it was a case of adding the pomegranate, peanuts, spring onions, peas, beans, pepper and coriander, giving it a stir...then making a simple dressing using the rest of the ingredients...(EVOO, sesame oil, soy and orange juice)...add to the quinoa and mix in...taste it, season if needed...I didn't...and enjoy...

Of course, you can add a myriad of flavours to this wonderful ingredient, it will even stand up to the heat of chilli...and it can be used in a variety of ways, as a stand-alone dish, as I have done, as a side dish, or even simply cooked in stock or water in the place of rice and pasta...one thing is for sure, I am going to cook it again, very soon...