Lemony Quinoa Salad

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: quinoa is the best! It's inexpensive, versatile, gluten-free, and is a complete protein that is plant-based. It also contains a ton of fiber and iron. It's a staple in my kitchen and hopefully yours too. So naturally having a simple go-to recipe for quinoa is a valuable resource.

This quinoa salad is anything but bland. It's a simple recipe, yet very tasty and very nutritious. Cucumber, lemon juice and zest keep things refreshing while the raw hemp seeds add some extra protein and healthy fat. I love this salad to bits and it's probably one of my favourite combinations that I've made to date.

All it takes is one pot and a bowl to combine everything. The best part is, it's an easy way to help you incorporate healthy eating into lunches and weeknight meals.

Just a reminder though, it's important to rinse your quinoa thoroughly before cooking it to remove the saponin, which gives the grain a bitter taste. Rinsing this bitter coating off also make the quinoa more easily digestible. The first time I ever made quinoa I neglected to do the rinse simply because I didn't know any better...and the results? Yuck!!! I remember thinking, "what am I doing wrong? Is it supposed to taste this way?" Yeah...no.

The hemp seeds are from North Coast Naturals and are 100% Canadian and raw. I've been iffy about hemp seeds in the past, but these are delicious. When I opened up the bag to take a scoop out what struck me was how incredibly fresh they were.

The taste is light and creamy from the crumbled goat cheese. I seriously can't stop eating this! It's a huge hit with everyone in my house. I can't get over this one! When I was creating this recipe I really had the idea in mind to serve it warm, but unfortunately I didn't get to devour this the day I made it. Instead I was making it for lunches to have the following day. So I reheated it to take the cold edge off and it was as good as gold. What I loved was how that little bit of heat warmed up the cucumber and slightly melted the creamy goat cheese, making it even more creamy. It reminded me of the cucumber and cream cheese tea sandwiches I would sometimes get back-in-the-day.

Lemony Quinoa Salad gluten-free, grain-free | Yields 3 servings

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Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 3/4 cup quinoa
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 scallions (green onions), minced
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup cucumber, sliced and quartered
• 3 tbsp raw hemp seed hearts (I used 1 scoop of North Coast Naturals)
• 1/4-1/2 cup goat cheese, crumbled
• salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Rinse your quinoa in a fine-meshed sieve under running water for 1-2 minutes.
2. Bring the water to a boil in a covered pot. Stir in the quinoa, cover, and lower the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes. Do not stir while it cooks. Once cooking is finished (the water should be absorbed and the quinoa tender), remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes.
3. While the quinoa rests, grab a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine the lemon juice, zest, green onions, olive oil, and salt & pepper to taste. 
4. Give the quinoa a fluff with a fork and then add it to mixing bowl with lemon dressing. Add the raw hemp seeds and sliced cucumber along with the quinoa and stir or toss to combine everything. Serve warm and top with crumbled goat cheese.

Nutritional Information:

Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe Calories: 243 Fat: 11g Cholesterol: 25mg Fat: Sodium: 92g Carbohydrates: 26g Sugar: 2g Fiber: 4g Protein: 12g

Wine and Shallot Brussels Sprouts

It may shock you to learn that brussels sprouts have been one of my favourite vegetables since I was a kid. Most kids grow up hating brussels sprouts. The funny part is that was a rather picky eater. When I was younger, they only ever made an appearance during the holidays. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's day there would be steamed brussels sprouts on the dinner table. It was always a given. My grandparents would host the events every year. Being english might have something to do with the sprouts being such a staple.

It's not unusual for us to have brussels sprouts (cooked any way) more than 3 times a week. Steamed brussels sprouts = the best! It might be boring but I really could live on steamed vegetables. Add some quinoa to that and I'll be all set!

A little tip, the best tasting brussels sprouts are small and young/ recently harvested. They are not quite so bitter and cook the best since they are fresh.

To prepare sprouts first you want to trim the ends of the stalk off. This bit is bitter, you don't want to eat it:

Then remove the outer leaves and give 'em wash. Next, if you are steaming them, you can either cut a little "X" into the end of each sprout (this ensures even cooking) or slice them in half.

This is a quick and easy recipe that doesn't skimp on any flavour. If you've had a hard time trying like this nutrient packed veggie then this recipe might just help you to acquire a taste for them. When cooked with wine and shallots they take on a golden crispy texture and an amazing caramelized flavour.

Wine and Shallot Brussels Sprouts

vegetarian, vegan, gluten free | makes 4 servings

Adapted from 101 cookbooks

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Ingredients:

• 1 lb brussels sprouts, stems trimmed and outer leaves removed
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 shallot, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• Pinch of sea salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Boil a large pot of water (or a pot fitted with steamer basket) and prepare an ice bath in a large bowl. Cut each sprout in half through the stem. Add sprouts to boiling water and cook until tender-crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain and add to ice bath. This will immediately stop the cooking process, reserving the sprouts nutrients and bright green colour.
2. Heat olive oil in a very large skillet on medium heat. Add sprouts to pan, cut side down, and cook until browned on bottom, about 5-8 minutes. Stir in shallots and garlic and cook until fragrant and soft; 1-2 minutes. Add white wine, salt and pepper, and stir. Remove from heat and serve.

*Tip*

• If you are making a holiday dinner, these can be kept warm in the oven until ready to serve.
• Always look for brussels sprouts that are tightly closed together - they cook better and will have had less room for any dirt to get into them when growing/ harvesting.
• A bit of shaved parmesan cheese is a welcome addition when serving.

Nutrition Information

Serving Size: 3/4 cup Calories: 97 Fat: 3.9g Saturated Fat: 0.6g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 81mg Carbohydrates: 11.9g Sugar: 2.6g Fiber: 4.3g Protein: 4g

I'm thinking this will be a hit at any holiday dinner table :)