NECTARINE QUINOA SALAD
Nectarine Quinoa Salad is a gluten free, vegan, colourful, bright, packed with flavours and textures kind of summery salad. With a homemade fresh ginger salad dressing, this is one salad you don't want to miss out on.
Ingredients
FOR THE NECTARINE QUINOA SALAD
- ½ cup quinoa
- 1¼ cup water
- 2 ripe nectarines
- ½ cup sweet corn cooked
- ¼ cup green beans approx 80g
- ¼ cup red onion diced
- ½ cup cucumber diced
- 6-8 large fresh basil leaves
FOR THE GINGER SALAD DRESSING
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice fresh
- 1 tsp fresh ginger minced or grated
- 1 tbsp maple syrup | honey
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper coarsely ground
Instructions
PREPARE THE GINGER SALAD DRESSING
- Add the ingredients for the dressing in a jar.
- Screw the the lid of the jar tightly. Shake the jar till the dressing appears creamy.
- Keep in the fridge to chill till required.
BLANCH THE BEANS
- Heat the water in a saucepan till it begins to boil.
- Add the whole green beans.
- Allow the water to boil again. This will take about 3-5 minutes.
- In the meantime add chilled water and some ice cubes in a bowl.
- When the water begins to boil, remove the beans and add them to the iced water.
- Leave them in the iced water till required.
PREPARE THE QUINOA
- Rinse the quinoa in water 2-3 times. Each time, rub the quinoa between your fingers to remove the bitter saponin coating.
- Add the washed quinoa to the hot water in which you blanched the beans.
- Cover the pan, lower the heat. Allow the quinoa to cook for 20 minutes or till done.
- Once cooked, allow the quinoa to cool down completely.
- In the meantime dice the nectarines, onion, cucumber.
- Chop the basil finely.
- Remove the beans from the iced water. Pat them dry on a kitchen towel.
- Trim the ends. Cut the beans into small pieces.
- Add all the salad ingredients to a mixing bowl.
- Add the cooked quinoa too. Mix well.
- Add the ginger salad dressing and toss well.
- Allow the salad to chill in the fridge for 30-60 minutes.
- Enjoy Nectarine Quinoa Salad as a side dish or as a light meal. Serves 4 as a side and 2 as a light meal.
Notes
- It is important to rinse the quinoa properly to remove the natural coating saponin as it tastes bitter and soapy.
- Don't overcook the quinoa and the beans.
- Add any salad ingredients and fresh herbs of your choice.
- If you don't like ginger, prepare a simple lemon vinaigrette.