This healthy quinoa salad can be made in no time and adapted to include what you have on hand. I used some Tri-Colour Quinoa from Costco, but ordinary white quinoa will do. Serve this salad alone or with grilled chicken or fish.
2 cups cooked and drained quinoa (measure after cooking)
Finely grated rind and juice of 1 large lemon
¼ cup olive oil
1 Tbs honey
1 tsp mustard (Dijon or English)
¾ tsp salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 Lebanese cucumber thickly sliced and quartered
½ cup lightly toasted nuts (pistachios, pine nuts, cashews)
½ cup crumbled feta cheese (or substitute a creamy goat cheese)
1/3 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/3 cup coarsely chopped parsley
½ cup coarsely chopped fresh mint
Mix all ingredients together in a salad bowl and serve.
Serves 4
Variations: add some halved cocktail tomatoes, small broccoli or cauliflower florets. Use sliced spring onions instead of red onion. If you like things a bit spicy, add one small red chilli, seeds removed and finely sliced. Add some sweetcorn kernels, fresh, frozen or canned. Add drained and rinsed canned beans instead of chickpeas.
