July 4th Quinoa Salad

It's soon to be 4th July, a time to celebrate independence day with your family and friends. This delicious salad has endless possibilities for customization. Once you have a good base, it’s easy to personalize it and make it your own. Happy Cooking!

Quinoa Salad Recipe

Quinoa Salad

  • Cook 1 cup of uncooked quinoa according to package.
  • 3 stalks of celery, chopped
  • 1/2 cup of organic raisins
  • 1/2 cup of slivered almonds
  • 2-4 tablespoons of fresh herbs; basil, cilantro or mint
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Once the quinoa has cooled to room temperature, toss everything together in a big bowl. A light dressing maybe added just prior to serving (though with freshly chopped herbs, the salad is delicious on its own, too.

Dressing

  • 4 T. cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil
  • Juice of ½ organic lemon
  • ¼ tsp. of ground mustard
  • 1 T. honey (optional)
  • Pinch of sea salt

Place all ingredients in a jar vigorously.

Healthy Facts About Quinoa

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is considered to be a “whole grain” but it is actually the seed of a plant that is a relative of leafy green vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard. Quinoa is high in protein and fiber and is gluten-free. Quinoa is a complete protein, meaning that it contains all 9 essential proteins that we need to get from our diet (our body doesn’t make them). Quinoa provides a good source of manganese, magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorous.