After last weekend's culinary debauchery (jalapeno poppers, anyone?), I've embarked on a week of healthy eating. They make this tasty quinoa salad at Dean and DeLuca's and, after reading the ingredient list, I decided to try recreating it.
Here's the basic recipe. Take 1 cup quinoa + 2 cups water, bring to a boil then reduce heat to very low and simmer until water is absorbed (about 20 minutes). Let it cool off for a bit, while you go do something healthy, like lying around on the yoga mat pretending you're exercising. Next, add about 1 cup baby spinach, chopped a little so there's no big leaves or stems. Add about 1/4 cup each dried cranberries and golden raisins, a handful each of pumpkin seeds, almonds, and pinenuts (I didn't have pinenuts so I used walnuts). Now you want to throw in some scallions (or chives, which is what I had in the fridge) - and if you wanted to get really schnazzy you could substitute sauteed shallots, and wow, is that fancy. Generously season with salt and pepper, add about a tbsp olive oil and a nice drizzle of sherry vinegar. Toss that salad, and you're ready to go!
Makes a LOT, so share it with a few friends or plan on eating it for lunch all week. (which is what I've been doing)
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