I used to think quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) was a rather strange ingredient. And I vowed to never post recipes on this blog that call for strange ingredients. But it seems as though quinoa is becoming more commonplace, and I am certain some of 
you have a bag of it sitting in your pantry and don’t know what to do with it. I admittedly let our first bag of quinoa just chill for about six months before I worked up enough courage to try something so unusual and different. It’s funny how new ingredients can do that to us.
Long story short quinoa is very similar to couscous. You can eat it plain or add all sorts of seasonings and other fresh flavors to it. And we happen to think this recipe below is a real crowd pleaser. It can be eaten as a side with your lunch or dinner or brought along as the perfect addition to a potluck gathering. We also brought this salad camping the other weekend, and it would work great at an outdoor cookout as well. Trust me – you can’t go wrong so just make it, and I promise it will be gone in no time!
- 3 cups cooked quinoa (1 cup dry)
- ¾ cup dried fruit – we used raisins, golden raisins, chopped dried apricots, and dried currants
- ¼ pine nuts, toasted
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 bell pepper of any color, diced
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Pinch of salt
- Directions
- Mix all salad ingredients together in a large bowl.
- In a separate, smaller bowl whisk together all dressing ingredients.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and mix thoroughly.
Can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge.
In other news: Check out my weekly syndicated newspaper column that ran in some of today’s papers including the Miami Herald. If you like it click “like” next to the title. As always, thanks for your support!
“Real food is the minority” http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/13/2264323/real-food-is-the-minority.html
[...] Adapted from 100 Days of Real Food [...]
what a great recipe- so easy and fresh tasting! I have been craving it since I made it last week! And a pregnant friend I made it for said she got up in the middle of the night and ate every bite of the leftovers as her midnight snack
SO yummy, thanks for the great recipe! making it again right now
[...] so I added a can of pineapple! Super yum, cooking up pork chops in it tonight. I also made a quinoa lime cilantro salad using up the leftover quinoa we had from earlier meals. Chris added his panko crusted salmon to [...]
[...] Grilled Cheese Lettuce Salad Shaun will take leftovers to work I made Quinoa Salad and will eat that each weekday Kenna will do leftovers or Quinoa Salad the [...]
[...] and Pesto Supper with friends Lunches: Taco Salad Lemon and Basil Baked Chicken and Brown Rice Quinoa Salad Leftovers Snacks: Pretzels Smoothies What are you [...]
[...] – grilled tilapia, quinoa salad, roasted [...]
[...] me feel good and like I’m ready to bring on the week! I made Pumpkin Oatmeal Breakfast Bars, Lime-Cilantro Quinoa Salad, egg salad, and some double chocolate chip cookies for Andrew. He actually made them. I just [...]
Oh my, I get cravings for this stuff. So good! Extra points for being make ahead.
I love this salad!!! I’ve brought it to many potlucks and it’s a big hit!
This is SO good! I add some chickpeas to it to make it a complete lunch meal. I make a big batch of it on the weekend, and then I have lunch for several days. Yum!
[...] And for our first adventure … Lime-Cilantro Quinoa Salad from 100 Days of Real Food [...]