Favorite Thing #22: Nutty Quinoa Salad

This Spring Gabe joined his first ever soccer team. The Pirates. Argh! If you haven't watched 3 year old soccer, you are missing out. It is one of the most amusing sights. Ever. Well, other than watching Abbi do Zumba. Equally adorable and soul lifting stuff. 

Our little soccer star. 

 

I should clarify, Gabe is not really at all interested in soccer. This may change, but at this point he is far more concerned with sticking out his arms and flying around the field like an airplane. But he's happy to run along (behind) the pack. And he certainly doesn't kick and scream when we tell him we have a game or a practice. So I figure it's worth every penny, because some days its near impossible to keep up with this little boy. 

Getting two kids fed, dressed, out the door, on my own, by 5:45pm is challenging, which is why I have declared Wednesday night sandwich nights. I whip together some pb+j for the kids and something a little fancier for Rob and I. And last week, I put our favorite salad on the side, Nutty Quinoa Salad. Seriously, this stuff is like candy. We have to double the recipe now because otherwise it doesn't leave any leftovers. 

Seriously. That's my kind of meal. Sooo good.

My Mom gave me a Company's Company cookbook a few years ago, called "Healthy in a Hurry." Honestly, there isn't much else in there that appeals to me, but this recipe is a gem.

Nutty Quinoa Salad

Salad Ingredients

1.5 C. Water

3/4 C. Quinoa

1/2 C. Red (or Green) Pepper, chopped

 1/2 C. Celery, chopped

1/2 C. Cucumber, chopped

1/2 C. Green Onion, chopped

2 Tbsp. Cilantro, chopped

1/3 C. Unsalted Peanuts, chopped

Nutty Lime Dressing

3 Tbsp. Peanut Butter

2 Tbsp. Lime Juice

1 Tbsp. Rice Vinegar

2 Tsp. Soy Sauce (or Braggs)

1 Garlic Clove, minced

2 Tsp. Ginger Root, grated

1. Rinse and soak quinoa for a few minutes. Then combine with water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes until the water is absorbed. Rinse with cold water. 

*Or put it in your rice cooker. Same ratio, 1 C. Quinoa to 2 C. Water. This is what I do.

2. Meanwhile, combine the next 5 ingredients in a medium bowl.

3. For the nutty lime dressing, combine 6 ingredients into a small bowl and whisk until combined. Makes about 1/2 C. dressing. Drizzle over salad. Mix in quinoa. Top with chopped peanuts.

I found the following nutrition info on MyFitnessPal. Sadly, good ol' Jean doesn't include this information in her cookbook.  

Serving Size: 1 Cup

Calories: 273

Total Fat: 14g (Sat. Fat: 2g, Poly. Fat: 4g, Mono. Fat: 6g)

Cholesterol: 0mg

Sodium: 256mg

Potassium: 0mg

Carbs: 31g

Fiber: 5g

Protein: 10g

Source of nutrition info: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/homemade-companys-coming-cookbook-nutty-quinoa-salad-8102492