The Chef and The Dietitian-Episode 26-Quinoa Salad

Fresh, fragrant herbs and sweet currants mixed with crunchy pistachios and hearty quinoa...voila...the perfect salad! Join Chef AJ and I as we show you how to make her Quinoa Salad with Currants and Pistachios, found in her delicious book Unprocessed. Quinoa is considered a super-grain, with its abundance of essential amino acids, fiber, folate, manganese, magnesium, and iron. Also gluten-free, its versatility qualifies it as a pantry staple!

The Chef and The Dietitian - Episode 18...QUINOA!

Quinoa is an ancient grain that's actually a seed and considered the "gold of the Incas". Filled to the brim with amino acids (all 9 essential amino acids are represented making it a complete protein), fiber, and phytonutrients, quinoa is indeed a supergrain! Not to mention how delicious it tastes and how versatile it is.

Also, we discovered a new company called Dragunara that makes delicious, salt-free, oil-free, and sugar-free seasonings. We use their "Slim Spice Seasoning" in this episode.

Watch Chef AJ and myself as we show you how to make a simple and sassy side dish in this episode of The Chef and the Dietitian:

Quirky Quinoa

I love quinoa. It is a supergrain that is versatile, delicious, and easy to use. Quinoa is an ancient grain that was once considered gold by the Incas because of its superior nutrient value. It is a complete protein (rare in the plant world for a single food) and, specifically, it is high in lysine, an amino acid that is less common in grains. Quinoa is also high in minerals such as manganese, magnesium, iron and phosphorus as well as fiber. Truly one of nature's superfood.

Jon and Cari Ham had come up with this recipe and I was eager to try it. Overall the recipe is low in calories, but very high in protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. In other words, it meets my criteria for a perfect meal, where there is a lot of nutritional buck!

Here is the recipe:

1/2 cup rinsed quinoa

1 can chopped tomatoes with sauce

1-2 serrano peppers, chopped

1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed

Add this to 1.5 cups boiling water. Let simmer for 10-12 minutes. Then add the following:

1 cup pre-cooked rice

tsp minced garlic

1 green and 1 red bell peppers (or 2 of one color), chopped

1 cup chopped broccoli

Let simmer for another 10 minutes, before the vegetables get soft. Add hot sauce if you desire some extra heat.

Plate it and enjoy. Serves 2 hungry or 4 not-so hungry. Enjoy!