Quinoa crunch salad

Quinoa crunch salad

I can't believe I'm getting ready to say this, but.. 90˚ afternoons are making it hard for me to turn on the oven. I never understood why people shied away from using their ovens in the summer, and now I do - not everyone lives in a place with access to air conditioning. We, for example, live in a 110 year old warehouse. It was built before central air existed - and the windows in the main living area weren't exactly designed to hold air conditioning units - so we had to order one of those ridiculously tacky (not to mention, overpriced) standing units to help keep the main living area cool during the warm summer months. Thom fought me on this to no end. Probably because he knows that once the tacky cooling device arrives, I'm not going to walk around the house naked all day. But once he gets fresh baked goods in his belly, he'll forget about the nakedness. Unless he reads this post.

The upside to all of this heat is that it's allowing me to focus on healthier, vegetable heavy dishes. Like this salad. Which is simple to make and chock full of stuff that's good for you. I used one cup of quinoa to two cups of water and got four cups of cooked quinoa. Also, you can use any liquid sweetener you want; agave nectar, honey, date syrup, etc. Just make it, you won't be sorry.

QUINOA CRUNCH SALAD

4 cups cooked quinoa
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup crushed almonds
1/4 cup dried currants
2 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup  chopped broccoli
1/4 cup diced mango
1/4 cup edamame
2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
1-2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp coconut nectar
Salt, to taste

Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Yes, it's really that easy. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator. Will keep for 3-5 days.

Yield: 6-8 side servings

15 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 14, 2012

    oh that looks so delicious! I LOVE that you put currants in it! sounds so yummy! thanks for sharing! and i'm with you -- no oven in the summer!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOL - I am in the same boat! No central air, and The Boyfriend bans me from the kitchen if the temperature gets above 80f. Definitely looking into an AC unit!

    I do love quinoa salads, though, and am actually planning one for later this week (as the weather gets hot again). I love the coconut and mango in yours! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful-looking salad. I love the way the coconut perks up the quinoa and practically makes it sparkle. It may never be 90 here, so I'll have to pretend it's too hot to turn on the oven, and make quinoa salad.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've been having a pretty serious love affair with quinoa lately. I love how simple and fresh list salad is - definitely going to be one of my summer staples. And I'm totally with you on the heat = clean eating. My desire to eat garbage melts away when the temperatures climb.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dude! This sounds awesome.... even though it's Winter where I am! This will totally be created when mangoes come back into season... fantastic combo of ingredients :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Salad with a crunch! I have to admit, I have never used quinoa in a salad before, always in soups. I gotta try your recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, looks like an excellent recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The recipe looks awesome and I can't wait to try it but I'm confused about the use of coconut oil. Since it's a solid at room temperature, do you melt the oil and combine with lime juice and sweetener of choice and then toss with the salad?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, good catch, Jess! It's so hot in my kitchen that the coconut oil is always melted. Melt it, then mix. Or you can use any other oil.

      Delete
    2. So hot the coconut oil is always melted?! Oh my goodness, you have my INFINITE pity :) Thanks for the clarification--can't wait to try it now!

      Delete
  9. whoo hoo another western blogger!
    i'm up in jackson hole....and so glad i found you because your posts look so yummy!

    xothe egg out west.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I totally hear you on the whole no-oven cooking! It is 99 here in DC and it is GROSS hot. However, you are totally right about only wanting light foods like salad--this looks yummy! I was just looking at a giant bag filled with quinoa and wondering what I should do with it--done and done! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yes, this is a salad I can get behind...

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousJune 29, 2012

    This salad is soooo yummy! I love dishes that let the nutty quinoa flavor stand out. I didn't have any fresh mango on hand so I added dried goji berries which are really pretty! Thank you for this lovely salad :)

    ReplyDelete