Quinoa Salad
Before I left for holidays, I received an awesome package in the mail:
Thank you Lola! You’re a doll! It was such a lovely surprise after missing out on getting a copy at the book launch a few weeks back. So it made for some delicious holiday reading.
And I even got a personally autographed copy 
So now back on home soil I’d decided to make a variation on Lola’s Quinoa Salad
Quinoa Salad
adapted from Inspiring Ingredients by Lola Berry
Ingredients:
1 cup of cooked red quinoa
4 tomatoes diced
120g of mixed lettuce leaves
1/2 red onion diced
2 stalks celery finely chopped
handful of sultanas/raisins
1/3 cup of sunflower seeds
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
handful of chopped fresh coriander/cilantro
pinch of himalayan salt, cracked pepper and sumac
juice & zest of one lemon
Dressing:
Juice of one lemon
3 T nama shoyu/tamari
1 T agave
1 T olive oil
1 t apple cider vinegar
seasoned with himilayan sea salt and cracked pepper
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and FEAST!
This served 3 hungry adults (Mum, Dad & I)
I love eating salads with bite size pieces that you can shovel into your mouth, and even better I ate this salad with a spoon!
Then whilst watching my new TV obsession, the UK version of Come Dine with Me, I put together a snack plate of this for us all to enjoy.
Almond butter on fruit.
I can rarely enjoy that show without something to nibble on.
First dad eyed off the plate with a bit of a funny look, but when he saw mum and I hooking into it, he bravely sampled a banana then was happy to try out the apple.
What’s your TV obsession right now?
I am also loving Banged up Abroard/Locked up Abroad on the National Geo Adventure Channel.
***UPDATE: Thanks for your responses yesterday regarding your blender ideas. For those of you currently in the market for a new blender, here was some great feedback:
Kate Quinn (founder and Editor in Chief of Living Raw Magazine) said:
I thoroughly recommend the Vitamix but if you can’t afford it look towards a cheaper one – although I generally recommend 1200 watts or above as the 600W ones (at least here in Aus) don’t break down the greens very well. I have run comparisons side by side and the difference is quite stark.
I have tested of a new product called Ladyship which is mid-range priced (about $400?) and while it has a 600w motor the strength is in its torque. Green smoothies are great in it and it also does nut milk – straining the pulp and all – because you can put a filter in the jug (so it also does juicing). I’m quite impressed and now recommending this for people who don’t want an cheap and tinny blender, but can’t afford the Vitamix. More info here:http://www.ladyship.com.au/
InTolerantChef said:
It’s always worth while purchasing the very best equipment you can afford, or maybe saving a bit longer to get the right one. As a chef who uses this type of equipment constantly, it’s not worth while cutting corners to save a little bit of money. It’s false ecconomy in the long run.
Shani said:
I recently upgraded from my breville blender which I used for about 12 months before it gave up on me, but I still could not afford the Vitamix, I ended up researching alot and buying a Powermill Blender form Vitalitly 4 Life in Australia for around $600 AU and it is fantastic. It blends up everything so smooth and does everything else I wanted it too. It was alot cheaper than the Vitamix and I am very happy with it.
You can also read more positive Vitamix comments here on my facebook page.
This looks great. I never think of quinoa other than as a side dish.
Me neither usually Heather, but this dish was a main in itself!
That salad looks soo yummy! I just checked out your friend’s book – it’s beautiful!
it is visually and tastefully pretty
I’ve never tried red quinoa before, I shall have to look for it.
I love the pics of you on the boat girlie!!! I would love to be sailing on the ocean right about now.
I’ve watched Come Dine With Me, and now there’s a Canadian version of the show, which my friend was on! It was hilarious
XOXO
I reckon it doesn’t taste any different but it sure looks pretty doesn’t it!
You are most welcome to come sailing with us next year if it all goes to plan!
Too funny re your friends on Come Dine With Me. That would have been very funny indeed. Imagine a raw version lol
Thank you for compiling these other blender thoughts, love! Really appreciate it
Am definitely going to try this recipe as I’m a quinoa lover, and have recently been getting into sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds too. (Partly because they’re a lot more budget-friendly! That said, my mum just gave me 500g of macadamias. Hurrah!)
Do you have a preferred brand of agave here in Australia? I’ve seen a couple at health food stores and am yet to make up my mind which one to get
I like Loving Raw Agave as it is raw and I don’t know of any other companies in Australia that do raw, but it’s not unlikely that they exist??? I am not as aware of the market here but best to try and get raw. I do try and use agave sparingly though and try to use alternatives if possible (ie fresh fruit, dates or date paste etc).
Oooh macadamias….you know what you can make with those? YUMMY nut cheese….
Coconut butter and Raw Agave are on the post-Melbourne-if-I-have-any-money-left shopping list
I did jsut buy medjool dates, though, for some hopefuly raw dessert action soon!
And the macadamias? Don’t tell anyone, but there might be an upcoming post about homemade macadamia butter
mmm, i love quinoa! i also love boats, summer, and those photos of you! wish i were in your spot!=)
It’s the last big trip for a while now Kel so we made it worth it
Thanks 
You look so cute, happy mama!
And that quinoa salad, yummy! And I love the snack plate. That’s awesome your dad happily enjoyed too. And I love show Locked Up. I’m not obsessed with it but it’s so interesting.
Yeah it’s not often he’ll like what I put in front of him, but I’ve had 2 other wins, this week too. He likes the Liver Flush drink as well as the Quinoa Salad too. AMAZING!!!
Yum, this looks wonderful. Quinoa is great cooked or sprouted and I’ve recently discovered using it in soup. Cute pics, looks like a wonderful holiday.
Wow in soups! Of course, that would be a great idea! Yes the holiday was fantastic thank you! Very lucky indeed…won’t be happening much after the little man’s arrival!
Isn’t it fun when you can get family members to try something new and healthy? My family is pretty open minded with my concoctions, but I know they make fun of me behind my back.
Haha kt, i think I can totally relate to the family thing. I took the Liver Flush drink to my mother in law’s place yesterday and although she enjoyed it, my father in law needed to grab a biscuit to remove the taste from his mouth LOL!
Trying a new quinoa salad is always a great idea. I just love, love, love the almond butter on fruit idea. I have a new-ish jar of ABC butter loitering in the fridge. I only make one recipe with it- which is fab of course, but my last jar dried out because I didn’t use it up fast enough. I’ll try smearing it on fruit instead of letting it dry out in the fridge. I can see some happening after dinner tonight.
I hear ya Louise. I often forget about my butters in the fridge and go through phases. Obviously I am on a nutbutter on fruit phase right now!
You are so good at taking pictures… or someone is! And I’m starving now
Haha thanks Blender Love