Quinoa Salad with Asparagus and Roasted Red Peppers in Lime Cumin Vinaigrette
Quinoa, an ancient grain native to Peru, is one of the most nutritious foods – there is a reason why it’s a staple in any health food store. We actually started having quinoa very young – when my brother and I were babies, my mom used to give us quinoa water (the water used when boiling quinoa) mixed with powdered milk. Babies in my family always had a beautiful glow and I don’t think that’s a coincidence – quinoa is high in protein, fiber and many important minerals. Now my own kids are growing up eating quinoa just like I did.
Ingredients
2 cups quinoa
1/3 cup canola oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp annatto powder
½ tsp Aji mirasol paste (found at Latin American markets or online)
4 cups hot water
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup green asparagus, cooked and cut into ½” pieces
½ cup roasted peppers, diced
½ cup sundried tomatoes, julienned
1/3 cup lime juice
½ tsp yellow mustard
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa under cold water in a fine meshed strainer to remove any dirt or impurities.
- In a medium-sized pot, heat the canola oil over medium heat, add the onion and cook until translucent, then add crushed garlic and annatto powder.
- Stir then add aji mirasol and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the quinoa and hot water, mix all the ingredients together well and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat, leave uncovered and simmer until the water is absorbed and the quinoa looks fluffy.
- Place the quinoa in a bowl, season with salt and pepper and separate it by running a fork through it.
- Once the quinoa cools down, add asparagus, peppers and sundried tomatoes.
- In a separate bowl, combine lime juice, mustard, cumin seeds and olive oil and mix well.
- Pour the mixture over the quinoa and add chopped cilantro.
- Adjust seasoning if necessary and enjoy!
Notes
Cooking Tip: Always season quinoa after it is cooked because adding salt from the beginning will prevent it from cooking and becoming fluffy.