Green Apple Quinoa

This is a fresh, light salad that goes with just about any meal.  It travels well so it makes a nice salad to take to a picnic or a pot luck dinner. When I served it at Thanksgiving, my college-age granddaughter absolutely loved it. Recently she has moved into an apartment in New York City with a small kitchen and asked if I would send her the recipe.  So here you go Cassidy! 🙂

Start by getting all of your ingredients out.  You’ll need quinoa, water, slivered almonds (or plain macadamia nuts), a green onion, a cucumber, a Granny Smith green apple, a green bell pepper, a stalk of celery, a jalapeno pepper, a lemon, honey and salt.

Next you will begin prepping your ingredients.  First, start cooking the quinoa. Chop and roast the nuts.  Slice the green onion.  Peel, seed and dice the cucumber. Slightly peel the apple and then chop. Seed and dice the jalapeño pepper. Chop the celery and the green bell pepper.

Put the vegetables in a large serving bowl and mix in lemon juice, honey and salt.  When quinoa is done and cooled slightly, stir it into the vegetables. You can serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator.  Serves 4 to 6 people.

Author: Melinda Coker

Recipe type: Salad

Serves: 4-6 servings.

INGREDIENTS

·   1 cup uncooked quinoa

·   2 cups water

·   ¼ cup slivered almonds (or macadamia nuts), chopped and lightly toasted

·   1 green onion, diced

·   1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced

·   1 Granny Smith green apple, slightly peeled and diced

·   1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced

·   1 medium stalk of celery, diced

·   1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced

·   Juice of 1 lemon

·   ½ tablespoon honey

·   ½ teaspoon salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1.     Cook the quinoa according to package directions.

2.     Toast the nuts in a toaster oven or skillet.

3.     Prepare the green onion, cucumber, apple, green pepper, celery and jalapeno.

4.     In a large bowl, combine the chopped vegetables and mix in the lemon juice, honey and salt.

5.     Add the cooked (slightly cooled) quinoa and nuts.

6.     Toss and check seasoning; add more lemon juice or salt if necessary.

7.     Serve immediately or chill.