Quinoa lesson for the day . . .
What is quinoa?
Technically it isn’t a grain. It’s the seed of a leafy plant and a relative of chard and spinach. Quinoa eaters think of it as a grain because it can replace most grains used in any dish. It’s the perfect replacement for rice.
Quinoa has a tender texture and mild taste. My recent discovery was red quinoa. I love the color in salads as opposed to the light tan color of the quinoa I’ve used in the past.
Whatever you do, don’t spend $5 on a box of the stuff! It’s much, much cheaper in your store’s bulk bins.
Most importantly, quinoa is a complete protein. This means it can replace meat as your protein for the meal. It’s a terrific protein option for vegetarians.
End of quinoa lesson. If you haven’t tried it yet, I hope I’ve convinced you that you’re really missing out.
Happy cooking!
Serves 4
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups water
- ¼ cup almonds , sliced and toasted
- ½ cup dried apricots, chopped
- ¼ cup chives, finely chopped
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp sugar
Instructions
- 1. Bring water to a boil and add quinoa. Cook for 10 - 15 minutes over medium low heat until water is evaporated and quinoa is tender.
- 2. Allow quinoa to cool, then combine with apricots, almonds and chives.
- 3. Combine olive oil, vinegar, mustard and sugar in a small bowl.
- 4. Combine with quinoa and chill for 30 minutes.
What’s good for me in this dish?
Apricots contain manganese, vitamin E, magnesium, tryptophan, copper, vitamin B2 and phosphorus. Apricots lower LDL-Cholesterol and so lower your risk of heart disease. They also protect agains against Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease. Dried apricots are equally as good as their fresh form when it comes to their nutritional value.
Quinoa is a nutrition powerhouse. A complete protein containing all 9 essential amino acids, it’s also high in manganese, magnesium, iron, tryptophan, copper and phosphorus. Quinoa provides significant benefits for heart health. It’s also useful for people who suffer from migraine headaches. High in fiber, it’s useful for those dieting as it’s filling, as well as the benefits of fiber for certain types of cancers.
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 273
Total Fat: 10.61g
Cholesterol: —
Sodium: 21mg
Total Carbs: 36.90g
Dietary Fiber: 4.73g
Sugars: 7.49g
Protein: 7.96g
Weight Watchers Points 6
Nutrition details obtained from whfoods.org, nutritiondata.com, about.com, and abouthomecooking.com.
Healthy Quinoa Salad With Apricots and Almonds
this salad sounds just what I am eating now….healthy and delicious….just lost 10 lbs. so this is a keeper!
Awesome! I’m happy for you, eating healthy works every time, doesn’t it? It makes me sad that many people think eating healthy means missing out on great food. So not true.
Always looking for good quinoa recipes – great combination of fruit and nuts!
Me too. If you have any, pass them my way. I’ll glady post to my blog. I adore quinoa.
That looks really good and healthy!
The apricots and nuts make the dish that’s for sure!
Delicious!
I know I have to try quinoa. I see so many beautiful recipes from all the bloggers, but it seems that I put other things first. Your salad for another one time reminds me of how much I would love to try this grain.
It really is so simple to cook up and toss with almost anything. Just remember not to purchase by the box. Too expensive. Go for the bulk bins. It’s incredibly cheap there.
So easy and yet so elegant. Thanks for sharing
You bet!
Love love love the combination of textures and flavors!
Quinoa has the best texture. Tender and yet nutty. Wonderful.
Love the almond and apricot combo – why not in quinoa?!
really good! gotta try this out- thanks for sharing 🙂
You won’t be disappointed. 🙂
This looks wonderful! Thank you so much for posting the info on where to get nutrition data. I need to lower my cholesterol by a bunch so am going to start tracking calories, fat etc… This’ll be a huge help – as will your recipes 🙂
That’s wonderful that you’re taking control of your cholesterol levels. I’m happy the information here is helpful. My husband has high cholesterol, so we are working on his cholesterol levels too. 🙂
I love quinoa, and this is a beautiful salad…love the dijon in there 🙂
I liked the dijon too. It adds a mild heat.
apricots almonds sounds good
Quinoa is one of my favorite additions in a salad. Yours sounds perfect.
I still haven’t worked with quinoa yet. I’m not avoiding it on purpose, it’s just never come across my kitchen counter in recipe form. I love the idea of the apricots and almonds with it.
I wish I had known about quinoa when my kids were growing up. So healthy and packed with protein. It’s a salad I’m sure they would have enjoyed. 🙂
What a beautiful salad!Looks wonderful!
Simple to make too!
Quinoa is one of my favorite whole grains, but I still haven’t tried red quinoa. Have to get on that!
I’d never seen it before until I found it at our local Fred Meyer. Same flavor and texture, but such a pretty color!
Thanks for the lesson today! I love being healthy! Thanks for another healthy recipe inspiration!
I have two young ladies in the family who have definite requests when it comes to holiday food, so this recipe pleases both of them. 🙂