Quinoa is a perfect ingredient to add variety to your everyday salads. Quinoa is a grain that, unlike wheat or rice, is considered a superfood due to the amount of beneficial nutrients it provides. Its texture is similar to couscous, but it's easier to digest because it's gluten-free.
The best thing about quinoa is its neutral flavor that pairs perfectly with all kinds of fruits and vegetables. It's often paired with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, and other sweet and savory dishes, but also with dried strawberries and blueberries. Below, we'll show you how to prepare a salad packed with fresh vegetables and arugula, accompanied by a delicious and unique dressing.
Quinoa is very easy to prepare. Boil it the same way you would rice: place twice its weight in water in a pot and add the quinoa when it comes to a boil. You'll know it's ready when 15 minutes have passed and the grain turns from opaque to transparent.
We also recommend washing the quinoa before preparing it. This is because quinoa is coated with saponin , a molecule that gives it a very bitter taste. This molecule isn't dangerous, but its flavor can spoil your salad. Therefore, be sure to wash the quinoa thoroughly until the water runs clear before cooking it. We recommend using a colander, but you can also soak it for a few minutes and rinse it afterward.
Index
- 1 Necessary ingredients
- 2 How to remove the bitter taste from quinoa?
- 3 How long should quinoa be boiled?
- 4 How to prevent quinoa from becoming mushy
- 5 Ingredients
- 6 Instructions
Necessary ingredients
This recipe makes 4 servings of quinoa salad. Remember that you can modify any of the ingredients and use other vegetables or nuts that you prefer. Unlike lettuce, quinoa keeps perfectly in the refrigerator, making this salad perfect if you're looking for a healthy and nutritious meal to take to work and prepare for the weekend.
How to prepare Quinoa Salad
Finally, add the dressing and stir to combine.
How to remove the bitter taste from quinoa?
The bitter taste that quinoa sometimes has is caused by saponins, molecules that coat the seeds and share properties similar to soap (hence its name), forming foam when mixed with water. The good thing about saponins is that they are very easy to remove; just wash the quinoa under cold water until it stops foaming.
How long should quinoa be boiled?
Cooking quinoa is similar to cooking rice. Heat two cups of water for every cup of quinoa and boil the quinoa for 15 minutes, until the seeds become transparent and soft. Once boiled, drain it in a colander and let it dry.
How to prevent quinoa from becoming soggy
If you want your quinoa to be crispy and delicious, our favorite trick is to toast it before boiling it. To do this, add a splash of olive oil and a clove of garlic to the pan and brown the quinoa for 5 minutes until it begins to brown. Then, boil the quinoa as you normally would, resulting in a crispier and tastier result.
