July 24, 2019

Avocado Quinoa Salad

Name: Avocado Quinoa Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 cup cooked quinoa (multi-colored); 1 large Haas avocado; ½ cup sliced tomatoes (multi-colored cherry); ¼ cup frozen corn (thawed); 3 tablespoons herb vinaigrette dressing (or your favorite Italian dressing); ¼ C extra virgin olive oil; 3 T white wine vinegar; 1 clove garlic (minced or put through a garlic press); 1 tsp Dijon mustard; Snipped fresh basil (parsley, & dried Mexican oregano); Ground black pepper and sea salt to taste

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This refreshing avocado quinoa salad is perfect on a warm day. It’s a colorful addition to any meal. Pair it with entrees, other salads, or whole-grain bread.

Quinoa is one of those amazing grains that is not only fun to eat, but it’s also good for you. Full of protein, it was a favorite food the Incas. Read about the health benefits here.

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Ingredients

Toss the quinoa with fresh avocados and tomatoes, add some corn, and top it off with an herb vinaigrette and you have a summer salad with some zing.

I used multi-color quinoa because it makes the salad pretty, but you can use whatever kind of quinoa that you have in your pantry. The vinaigrette is one I’ve used before — see couscous garbanzo salad — and it’s becoming one of my favorite things. It works with fresh or dried herbs and comes together quickly. But this is all about a quick salad, so if you don’t have time to make the dressing, use your favorite vinegar and oil dressing. A light Italian dressing will work too.

Making Avocado Quinoa Salad

Cook the quinoa according to package instructions and let it cool for 15 minutes or so. While it’s cooling, thaw the frozen corn and cut up the avocados and tomatoes. When the quinoa is cool, put everything together in one bowl, add the vinaigrette and stir.

Here’s a close-up of this salad stirred up and ready to eat.

Serving Avocado Quinoa Salad

Even though there is some protein in the quinoa, this salad is not a stand-alone meal. It goes well with a major protein such as pan-seared fish or chicken. Sometimes we pair it with our couscous garbanzo salad and some homemade sourdough bread, as shown below. This avocado quinoa salad goes well with pasta salads, especially ones that contain beans and cheese. If you try it, post a comment and let me know how you served it.

Take it with you

If you need a dish for a friendly get-together, this avocado quinoa salad is a great option since it goes with so many things. Also, the vinegar in the dressing keeps the avocado fresh-looking so it’s still good the next day. Take leftovers to work and wow your co-workers with your yummy, healthy lunch.