Wednesday 17 June 2020

The Cheffy Nephew's Quinoa Salad

I was chatting (via text) to my sister Blondie the other day, as we do every day.  We talked about what we'd been eating lately, as you do.  She told me her son (my cheffy nephew) had been cooking up quinoa for a salad.  Then she asked what I was up to?  I said blogging, and she said: 'How about The CN cooks up something for your blog?'  'Go for it!' I replied.  Et voilà, here we have his quinoa salad.  And yes, he is a qualified chef, as is my sister's son-in-law.  The nephew-in-law has a café in Melbourne called Settle Gretel if ever you're down that way.  (Yes, gratuitous, unashamed plug.)    



healthy salad for lunch


Serves 2:


ingredients:

1 cup water

1/2 cup organic quinoa, rinsed well under running water

1 small tomato, diced

1/4 continental cucumber, diced

half a large orange, segmented and chopped into chunks

1/3 red onion, finely sliced and sautéed in 1 tbs EV olive oil

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

2 tbs pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

2 tbs pine nuts (optional)


Dressing:

stir together lime juice, olive oil, salt (and sneak in some freshly ground black pepper), and pour over the salad.  I suggest 1 tbs lime juice to 2 tbs oil, and a really big pinch of salt (and pepper).  The cheffy nephew suggests you could use balsamic vinegar or a shop-bought dressing if you're taking it easy


Method:

Put the water and well-rinsed quinoa in a saucepan, bring to a boil, turn down and let it simmer for about fifteen minutes till tender; allow to cool

Place the quinoa in a large bowl; add the chopped tomato, cucumber, orange and sautéed onion

Give it all a good stir, then add the sunflower seeds, pepitas and pine nuts

Stir the dressing into the salad

Serve with extra tomato slices, cucumber, grated carrot and whatever else you fancy - some fetta or bocconcini would be nice, and some sliced apple or celery



gather your ingredients


1/2 cup quinoa cooked in  one cup of water for about fifteen minutes till tender


cheffy nephew about to start chopping


add the chopped tomato


chop that orange


dice the cucumber

finely slice the red onion for sautéeing


try some balsamic if you wish:-)




Hear the clatter!  Such a great sound.  (Press play twice if the video doesn't appear.)



add the seeds


ready to eat


looking delicious and healthy


gratuitous shot of the cheffy nephew :-)

(Thanks Sis for the photos and video.)


32 comments:

  1. That looks like a very nutritious and delicious salad! Thanks, Sherry and cheffy nephew :-)) I would love mine with lots of pepitas, please!

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    1. i love the sound they make clattering into that bowl:)

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  2. Yum! I love quinoa salads and make them often. I will definitely give this one a try. The orange in it sounds delicious. Meg:)

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  3. I love the Cheffy Nephew feature here, Sherry! What a cool idea that he was willing to share a recipe for the blog - love it. And speaking of the recipe, this sounds fantastic. I would never have thought about the orange in there. And the texture from the seeds is a good touch, too. I hope his cafe is successful - I took a peek at his website and it looks like a really cool place!

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    1. hi david
      it was fun to have a recipe for the blog from the cheffy nephew. and the nephew-in-law is doing very well with his cafe, thanks! So glad you had a look at the website for it. cheers S

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  4. Thanks, Cheffy Nephew! Have tons of quinoa and oddly haven’t used a bit during lockdown. I guess I just needed to be inspired... by you. Of course, being in lockdown, there will need to be some edits but I think I can do it justice!

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    1. hi david
      thanks for dropping by! Yep this salad would be good for your system:)

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  5. Cheffy nephew makes good grub. This looks excellent -- thanks.

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  6. Lockdown has made me try more grain-based salads and other recipes, and this one looks good. What a wonderful thing to have the next generation taking over!

    be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  7. That looks like a tasty salad. I'd be tempted to add the feta or some cheese too but it looks yummy enough to keep vegan too.

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    1. you're right there, lorraine! but a few lumps of bocconcini would go down a treat tho i think...

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  8. A very healthy salad! I don't use quinoa very often and I should :)

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    1. yes good idea. such a healthy gluten-free 'grain'.

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  9. Such an awesome salad! I need to get me a cheffy nephew!

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  10. I have been loving sweet quinoa lately for breakfast and looking for an interesting savoury quinoa meal to try - and here it is! Thanks Sherry and nephew! I am loving that orange in there!

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  11. Your nephew rocks in the kitchen! What a lovely salad.

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  12. Bravo for the young chef, dear Sherry !!! :-)

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  13. What a delicious and healthy looking salad - even I could pull this one off! Nom nom! You have a very cheffy family :)

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    1. yes indeed a very cheffy family. my sister has gone to food college too:)

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  14. I just know quinoa recently, and quinoa salad is appalling ....yummy.

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    1. hi tanza
      thanks - i think:) appealing i hope you are meaning...

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  15. This looks so healthy and delicious

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