Quinoa Taco Salad
Let's taco bout this quinoa salad! It is SO refreshing, colourful and packed with vitamins, minerals and fibre. This quick and easy meal takes about 20 minutes to make (including prep and cook time). It's also a great recipe for any vegetables that need to be used up so don't limit yourself to the list of vegetables below!
Things that we love about this recipe:
A little goes a long way - if you have never made quinoa before, you'd be surprised at how much 1 cup of uncooked quinoa turns into! This recipe made enough to last me 3 scrumptious lunches.
Super versatile - this tastes delicious hot OR cold. So if you don't like to cook often but want something healthy and quick, you can eat this salad straight from the fridge! Pair this with some salmon, chicken or firm tofu for a balanced meal. Personally, I enjoy this salad cold and served with shredded chicken breast, avocado and tortilla chips for that added crunch.
Look at those colours - who doesn't love a colourful salad? Colourful food is so much more fun to eat and nutritious. Don't limit yourself to the list of vegetables below. Throw in any vegetables you like or need to use up!
Quick Quinoa Facts:
Most people think that quinoa is a grain but it's actually a pseudocereal because it's not grown on grass. However, it's still considered a whole grain in terms of its nutrient value.
The taste can be described as nutty and the texture is soft but it still has a bite.
Quinoa has all 9 essential amino acids.
Quinoa is higher in fibre than most grains, has a low glycemic index, and is naturally gluten-free.
Other Ways To Enjoy Quinoa:
Sweet - treat quinoa like oatmeal and add some fruit, nut/seed butter or yogurt for a yummy breakfast.
In soups/stews - quinoa is a very small grain therefore you can use it to thicken up your soups and stews. Plus, the quinoa will absorb all that delicious liquid.
Now that you have some background info on quinoa, don't you think you should try it out? Check out the BEST quinoa taco recipe below!
Recipe
Ingredients:
Quinoa:
1 cup quinoa, uncooked
2 cups cold water
Vegetables:
1 cup canned beans of your choice
1/2 cup canned corn kernels
1/2 cup red onion, diced
1/2 tomato, diced
1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
Dressing:
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 tsp garlic powder
Instructions:
Rinse 1 cup of quinoa in cold water then add it into a pot with 2 cups of cold water. Bring it to a boil then cover and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, turn off the heat and let it sit covered for 5 more minutes.
While the quinoa is cooking, prepare all the vegetables and combine in a large bowl.
Prepare the dressing by simply mixing all the ingredients together.
When the quinoa is done cooking, add it to your vegetable mixture and toss.
Add the dressing to the quinoa and mix well.
Cool it down if you prefer cold quinoa salad or just eat it warm straight away.
Store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.