Hi, my name is Jen from Bakerette and I’m currently crushing on this Quinoa Salad that is packed with lots of healthy ingredients so you can eat it without the guilt.

Quinoa Salad with Roasted Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, and Cucumber

Eat this Quinoa Salad with Roasted Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, and Cucumber without the guilt. A powerhouse salad that is utterly delicious and nutritious.

Quinoa is a super food! It is packed with B vitamins, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, vitamin E, fiber, and all essential amino acids making it a complete protein. I’m sure there are so many other nutrients packed into this powerhouse grain that I’m not aware of.

First, this tabouleh-like salad is simmered in orange juice giving it a hint of citrus. The taste is awesome!

Second, it has roasted red peppers! Have you had roasted red peppers? Incredibly delicious as they cook under a broiler until blistered and charred. The flavors are completely and utterly revealed when roasted.

Thirdly, add tomatoes, cucumber, tofu, mint, basil, and if desired, pine nuts for a crunchy texture. Serve it over a bed of spinach. You’ll love it!

This quinoa salad is:

Moist

Delicious

Satisfying

Filling

Crunchy

Nutritious

Very high in magnesium

Very high in phosphorous

Very high in vitamin B6

Very high in vitamin C

Very high in iron

Very high in fiber

Has no cholesterol

High in protein

If you like this Quinoa Salad with Roasted Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, and Cucumber, you will love these other salads at Bakerette.com

Try this Couscous Tabouleh Salad

Or how about this perfect summer salad: Italian Pasta with Vinaigrette Dressing

Enjoy your salad and I’ll see you around at Bakerette!

xoxo Jen

Print

Quinoa Salad with Roasted Peppers, Tomatoes and Cucumber

Prep Time 45 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 10

Calories 279kcal

Author Bakerette.com

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon plus 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cups quinoa rinsed and drained
• 2 cups fresh orange juice
• 2 cups water
• Generous pinch of salt
• 2 large red bell peppers
• 1/2 cup pine nuts optional
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 medium cucumber peeled, halved, seeded and finely diced
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes whole or halved
• 1/4 cup finely chopped basil
• 6 to 8 ounces tofu drained, pressed, and cubed
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Spinach optional

Instructions

• Over medium heat, warm olive oil in a medium-sized saucepan. Add quinoa and stir constantly until quinoa is lightly brown (about 4 minutes). Increase heat to medium high, stir in orange juice, water, and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook until the liquid is absorbed (about 15 minutes).
• Fluff quinoa with a fork and spread over a baking sheet to cool.
• Place whole red bell peppers on a baking sheet under the broiler on high, turning occasionally until bell peppers' skin blisters and turns black. Remove from oven and immediately cover with foil tightly. Set aside for 30 minutes or until peppers are cool enough to handle. Remove stems and slice into quarters. Remove peels and seeds and discard.
• If adding pine nuts, toast pine nuts in a medium skillet over medium heat stirring occasionally until golden brown (about 5 minutes). Transfer to a plate to cool
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil and vinegar. Transfer quinoa, peppers, pine nuts, cucumber, tomato, basil, mint and tofu and toss until thoroughly combined. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve over a bed of spinach.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 279kcal | Protein: 8.2g | Saturated Fat: 1.7g | Sugar: 7g

Jen

Sole Proprietor, Bakerette.com

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The post Quinoa Salad with Roasted Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, and Cucumber appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

When I was trying to decide what I wanted to make to share this month I kept thinking of some sort of fresh salad with spring veggies.  Perhaps artichokes or asparagus.  When I came across a pin from Two Peas and Their Pod for a Quinoa Salad with Asparagus, Peas, Avocados & Lemon Basil Dressing I knew I had to give it a try.

I’m so glad I did!  It’s a fantastic, fresh tasting salad that I enjoyed warm and chilled.  The lemon basil dressing is delicious and I loved how the creamy avocado contrasts with the crunchy peas and asparagus…and even the little pop you get from the quinoa.

I highly recommend this Spring Quinoa Salad, it’s fantastic!

Print

Spring Quinoa Salad

Ingredients

• 2 C. water
• 1 C. quinoa
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. olive oil
• 1 small bunch asparagus cut into 1" pieces
• 1 tbls. fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 C. frozen peas
• 1 avocado diced
• 1/4 C. chopped basil
• salt & pepper to taste

For the Vinaigrette

• 3 Tbls. olive oil
• 3 Tbls. fresh lemon juice about 1 lemon
• 1 tsp. honey
• 1 Tbls. finely chopped basil
• salt & fresh ground pepper to taste

Instructions

• Combine the vinaigrette ingredients in bowl or dressing jar, whisk or shake well to combine. Set aside.
• In medium saucepan add water, salt and quinoa. Bring to boil and continue to boil over medium heat for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to simmer and continue to cook until water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat. Fluff quinoa with a fork.
• Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat and add asparagus and lemon juice. Quickly sauté to soften asparagus. Add peas and heat through.
• In large bowl, add quinoa, asparagus, peas and avocado. Toss with the vinaigrette. Add basil and salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve warm, room temperature or chilled.

Notes

You could also steam the asparagus and peas or blanch in boiling water if you prefer not to sauté it in a skillet.

Recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod

For more delicious recipes I hope you’ll visit my blog at I’m Bored Let’s Go or catch up with me on  Facebook,  Pinterest,  Instagram or Twitter. I’d love for you to follow along!

See you next month!

Judy

Here’s a few more recipes I think you might enjoy:

Tortellini with Asparagus, Basil & Parmesan

Mexican Quinoa Bowl with Chipotle Vinaigrette

Sugar Snap Peas with Lemon, Mint & Pine Nuts

This amazing article has been shared with Whipperberry!

The post Spring Quinoa Salad appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.