Sweet Tangy & Colorful Quinoa Salad

Quinoa Salad

Healthy Quinoa Salad

Quinoa has been characterized as a super grain for quite some time now, and yet I see very few recipes that are unique. I think its potential is under-rated. Quinoa does not have any over-powering taste, so you can mix it with pretty much anything else that you like, and it will take on its character and flavor. Just like this delicious-looking Quinoa Salad, made with cucumbers, mangoes and corn.

Quinoa is an amino acid-rich (protein) seed that has a fluffy, creamy, slightly crunchy texture and a somewhat nutty flavor when cooked. If you let it overcook, it can become sticky and starchy. However, it is very difficult to mess it up; just boil some water, drop in the quinoa till it gets puffed up, then remove it from water, allow to cool down a bit, and fluff it with a spoon. There, your basic quinoa is ready to mingle with anything you fancy to make one healthy and flavorful dish. I saw this interesting salad featured on Whole Foods website, and since I had every ingredient on hand, I decided to give it a try. The result was a sweet and tangy salad that is perfect as a side dish, or even as a meal by itself. That’s because Quinoa is the only grain which is a complete protein, meaning it has all the nine essential amino-acids residing in it. Rich in fiber, potassium, manganese and anti-oxidants, it will keep you full for a long time, help relieve headaches and maintain a good balanced health!

Mangoes are one of my favorite fruits, so I was very happy to see them in this recipe. I adapted the recipe a bit to add some chopped walnuts, just because I love their flavor, and they add to the nutritious factor. The orange mango cubes paired with the green cucumber, red tomatoes and yellow corn made the salad such a beautiful visual treat, that even if you are not a great fan of Quinoa, you will want to dive into this salad as soon as you see it!

Quinoa Salad with Mangoes
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Serves: 2

Ingredients
1 cup quinoa
1 large tomato, seeded and diced finely
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels, thawed
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced finely
1 mango, peeled and diced finely
3 tablespoons finely chopped chives
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
1 tbsp finely chopped walnuts or pecans

Method
Rinse quinoa in a fine sieve until water runs clear. Drain and transfer to a medium pot, add 2 cups water and bring to a boil.

Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat to medium low, cover the quinoa with a lid, and simmer until water is absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove it from the heat and set aside to cool off for 5 minutes; uncover the lid and fluff the cooked Quinoa with a fork.

Now add all remaining ingredients and toss until combined. Serve it at room temperature, for a healthy and filling side dish, or even a main course, if you are targeting to lose some fat!

Quinoa is a great addition to your diet. It has tonnes of health benefits that one should not ignore. So if you haven’t tried Quinoa yet, or are looking for a fresh and flavorful new recipe featuring Quinoa, give this salad a try; I’m sure you’ll love it.

Do you like Quinoa? What are your favorite Quinoa recipes? I’m looking for new ideas as well, so please share your recipes and ideas via comments!

Related Recipes
Healthy & Delicious Buckwheat Cookies
Fiber & Vitamin-Rich Green Smoothie
Heart-Healthy Zucchini Bread
Whole-Grain Blueberry Pancakes


Comments

  1. Thanks Archana!

  2. appetisingly delicious.