Quinoa Tabouleh

This week’s ingredient challenge with a group of bloggers if featuring quinoa. I made tabouleh using quinoa instead of bulgur, which helps add protein instead of just a wheat-y starch. This dish was very simple, can be served with hot or cold quinoa, and easily cooked ahead of time. It’s also colorful and great to be paired with chicken, fish or chickpeas to beef it up as a main course. Check the jump for the recipe.

Quinoa Tabouleh

Quinoa Tabouleh

• 1/2 C uncooked quinoa
• 1 C water
• 2 C chopped parsley
• 3/4 C chopped red tomatoes
• 1/4 C mint leaves, chopped
• 1/2 cucumber, chopped
• 1 small zucchini, chopped
• For dressing:
• 1/8 C lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper

Instructions:

• On the stovetop, cook quinoa as instructed on box. Mine was 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer until liquid is near dissolved. Take off heat and leave covered until liquid is fully dissolved. Fluff with fork and set aside.
• In a large bowl, add all other ingredients and mix well. Top with dressing and mix. Add quinoa and mix again. Refrigerate until ready to eat.
• Letting it sit for a few hours is fine too.
• Serve with pita chips, on top of salad, crackers, in a wrap, with hummus, it’s endless.

Quinoa is a very versatile protein/grain that I’ve been cooking with often. It is fast and simple and has more nutrients than rice or pasta. It adapts to any flavor, makes a lot from a small amount of dry grain and is very easy to make. Here are some other quinoa recipes I’ve tried:

• Quinoa with veggies, dates and apples
• Quinoa with craisins and feta cheese

To see the other bloggers and their recipes, click their pages here:

• Sunny from www.andloveittoo.com
• Shea from www.dixiechikcooks.com
• Elle from www.nutritionella.com
• Lauren/Chrissy from www.fromthelittleyellowkitchen.wordpress.com

P.S. Our dog Lily turned one yesterday. Happy birthday Lily! The picture is Lily playing with her birthday cake toy that sings happy birthday and her menorah that she loves from Hanukkah.