Warm Quinoa Salad with Sweet Potatoes

 

About The Recipe

Quinoa is as filling as it is reassuringly nutritious. It is ideal for salads, as it happily accommodates other ingredients while providing its own flavor and lightly resistant texture. This salad is perfect for picnics, packed lunches, or dinner.

Serving 4 

Ingredients

2 medium size sweet potatoes, peeled and diced in cubes

¼ cup fresh thyme, chopped

2 tablespoons of olive oil- for roasting sweet potatoes

Salt and pepper to season potatoes

¾ - 1 cup of quinoa- cooked per package instructions (you can use regular or tri-color quinoa)

1 cup of chicken or vegetable broth

1/3 cup chopped scallions

1/2 cup fresh baby spinach julienne for garnish

Equipment

1 medium-sized roasting pan to roast sweet potatoes

1 medium-sized saucepan for quinoa

Instructions

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Preheat oven to 400°F

Place sweet potatoes in a Ziploc bag, add olive oil, chopped thyme, and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Then, place the potatoes on a medium-sized baking sheet and roast in the oven for about 30 minutes or until tender and slightly caramelized around the edges.  Once done remove from the oven and set aside.

Quinoa 

Meanwhile, add chicken broth to a saucepan on medium heat and bring to a boil. Add quinoa, salt, and pepper, then reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid, and cook for 10-12 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender.

Make a warm salad

In a large bowl, add roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa, and scallions. Combined everything together, taste for additional salt and pepper if necessary.  Garnish with julienne baby spinach. Served warm or at room temperature.

Recipe Tips

** You make the salad in advance as it will be stored in the fridge for a day.  You remove it from the fridge and let it stand at room temperature or warm in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

** Recipe can be doubled for more people and servings.

** Salad is perfect for lunch or a picnic dish.

Cooking from the Pantry - Salads are not just for summer

Quinoa Salad

Salads are not just for summer but for all year round. They can be crisp and light, stimulating and spicy, or substantial and satisfying.  Imagine tempting appetizers, complementary accompaniments, refreshing palate cleansers, or filling main course, and don’t forget that fruit salads make delicious desserts.  How about mixing fruits and veggies together which also makes wonderful salads. So get creative with making salads with endless possibilities.  In addition to making salads, continue to keep clean eating by making your only salad dressings too. 

Ingredients

Makes – 6 servings

• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
• ½ cup diced red onion
• 2 tablespoons lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar  (organic / raw unfiltered)
• ½ yellow bell pepper (dice)
• 1 medium tomato (diced) (tomato only no seeds or pulp)  
• 1 medium english cucumber, peeled, diced
• 4 tablespoons pitted, sliced kalamata olives
• 4 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
• 4 tablespoons fresh mint leaves chopped
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste  

Let’s make this!

1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and gently blend well. Covered and let marinate in the refrigerator for about an hour or longer. 

                                                                            

Quinoa - Trying to add more healthy whole grains to your diet? Choosing quinoa is a nutritious and easy to prepare whole grain to begin with. Yes, quinoa is healthy, but just how healthy is it? Get the straight nutritional facts and nutrient data about this healthy gluten-free and low-fat grain. Quinoa is a great food not just for vegetarians and vegans, but for anyone looking to lower their cholesterol or add fiber to their diet.

 

Apple Cider Vinegar - is a helpful health tonic that has shown promise in helping diabetes, cancer, heart health, high cholesterol, and weight loss, and for years people have used apple cider vinegar as a folk remedy to lower fever and aid indigestion. Reach for apple cider vinegar to cure everything from the hiccups to common cold symptoms.