Quinoa Salad with Asparagus and Feta
Quinoa is high on the list of FOODS I FEEL I SHOULD EAT, but I am still building up a repertoire of ways to use it. Today was my first crack at this salad as a work lunch, and it was pretty successful! I’ve adapted this recipe from Taste to make a batch big enough for two work lunches.
Ingredients
- 500ml (2 cups) water
- 150g (1 cup) quinoa, rinsed, drained
- Olive oil spray
- 1 bunch asparagus, woody ends trimmed, cut into 4cm lengths
- 1 large red capsicum, roasted
- 40g crumbled reduced-fat feta
- 30g sunflower seed kernels
- 2 shallots, trimmed, thinly sliced
- 1 tbs chopped fresh continental parsley
- 1 1/2 tbs fresh lemon juice
- 2 tsp honey
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 2 big handfuls of baby rocket leaves
Method
- Combine water and quinoa in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Transfer to a large bowl. Set aside to cool.
- Meanwhile, preheat a large chargrill on high. Spray lightly with oil. Cook the asparagus for 2-3 minutes or until tender crisp.
- Char grill your capsicum however you prefer - I just popped mine in our little toaster oven and rotated it until it was black all over, then remove the charred skin and slice it up.
- Add the asparagus, capsicum, feta, sunflower seed kernels, shallot and parsley to the quinoa.
- Whisk the lemon juice, honey, oil and paprika in a small bowl until well combined. Add the dressing and rocket to the quinoa mixture. Season with pepper and toss to combine.
Note: For work lunches, I separated out the quinoa, the dressing, the rocket and the other stuff into separate containers, then put together just before I ate them. It’s worth the hassle to stop everything getting soggy.
I love cats. I love pilates. This is my blog dedicated to my two favorite things.
Cats & Pilates
Edamame avocado salad sandwich! Brought to you by none other than TwoPeas&TheirPod once again. This sandwich equals delicious… and think I might be addicted to avocado? If you like the avocado & chick pea sandwich from their blog, this recipe is for you :)
Also on my current list of awesome things: this cardio blast workout from BEXLIFE.COM will make you work up a major sweat! I’ve been obsessed with it since she posted it on her YouTube account this week. <3
More food! Soba & sesame noodles with veggies. I don’t really remember when I made this, but what I do know is that it was excellent. I used less noodles than the recipe called for to keep us from having days and days worth of leftovers. Plus, I like to have a higher ratio of vegetables anyways. Look at all of the colors! Edamame is my new addiction (second to Pinterest, where I’ve been finding all of these awesome recipes).
Anyways, the recipe can be found here.
1) I treated myself and FINALLY bought the Nike running shoes I’ve been drooling over. Finally going to start running again. I went out the other morning & let me tell you - I work out 4 or 5 times a week & I haven’t run in… months. Months & months. My body was aching in the BEST way! Using muscles that haven’t been getting in on my Pilates/home cardio action felt amazing. Looking forward to my blisters (ew) healing & going out again asap.
2) Feeling really good about myself and my body lately. I can’t believe how changing my habits - eating right & exercising regularly - has changed me as a whole. If you ask anyone that knows me, I used to NEVER bare my arms or legs… but you bet your bottom dollar you’ll see me in sleeveless and shorts this summer. It’s nice to feel proud of myself again!
-S.
If I may just share a DELIGHTFUL (& healthy!) recipe I made this week…. avocado and chickpea salad. Best. Ever. This recipe was all over Pinterest so I had to give it a try. WORTH IT.
Thank to you Twopeas&theirpod for this magical recipe. It won’t disappoint!
(Seriously, don’t even think the boyfriend notices I’ve been increasing our vegetarian meals during the week….. and I’m not even vegetarian!)
Click the link above for the recipe :)
