Quinoa Salad

Toss up your salad game with this vegan and gluten-free Quinoa Salad! This salad is a powerhouse of filling and being heart-healthy. Full of fiber that helps with cholesterol and blood sugar levels, this quinoa salad is a great choice for those trying to be more health conscious without sacrificing flavor.

Your Food Benefits Plan

As we said, quinoa is full of fiber that helps with cholesterol and blood sugar levels. It’s also great for preventing constipation and can help lower your risk of intestinal cancers. Some say because of the high fiber content, it helps you feel full longer which could help with weight loss but that can vary from person to person. Quinoa is also rich in antioxidants, which help prevent damage to your heart and other organs and help prevent heart disease.
Quinoa contains plenty of anti-inflammatory plant compounds which can help with arthritis! Quinoa is also gluten-free, making it a great choice for people with gluten intolerance. Another bonus is that quinoa is a great source of protein for everyone, especially vegetarians and vegans. There are 8 grams per cooked cup.

How to cook Quinoa

You can cook quinoa just like rice. Rinse your quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer, and rinse under cold water. Rinsing removes the natural Saponin coating of Quinoa. Saponin can cause quinoa to taste soapy or bitter, so it’s important to rinse. For every 1 cup of quinoa, use 2 cups of liquid like water or broth, bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and cover with a lid. Let it cook for 15 minutes, then remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes, covered, then remove the lid and fluff with a fork!