Italian-Style Quinoa Salad - Delicious, Gluten Free, and easy!

Mom's Italian Style Quinoa Tabouli

This is a fabulous salad. It is flavorful, gluten-free and packed with healthy deep leafy greens. It is a salad that is hard to get tired of. You can make this ahead of time to enjoy for several meals with a side of clean protein. It's great to take as a lunch for work, or take on picnics, or just to have on-hand when you are in a hurry and need something good for you that's ready to go. The choice of foods we eat when we are in a hurry are frequently the things we regret eating later (I'm not pointing any fingers... soda and candy bar ).

This is a staple in our homes. My dad eats it every day and loves it! My mom and dad make it together and there is always some in their refrigerator. My dad has his black-belt in JUDO and instructs several Judo classes every week. This quinoa salad helps him stay lean and mean. My kids have a grandpa with a 6-pack (and I'm not talking about a 6-pack of root beer). Way to go dad!

There are other delicious variations to this salad that I will be posting...


ITALIAN  STYLE  QUINOA  TABOULI  Recipe:

Serves 4 to 6

2 c. cooked quinoa (or cooked sprouted quinoa), cooled
1/4 c. fresh lemon juice, to taste
1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil (or Green Oil recipe on this blog)
A pinch of. ascorbic acid powder (vitamin C)
2 garlic cloves, pressed through a garlic press
2 large scallions, thinly sliced
2 T. dried Italian herb seasoning blend, to taste
1 large bunch flat-leaf Italian parsley, without coarse stems
1/2 bunch dark kale, collard or broccoli leaves, chopped fine (use half as much kale as parsley)
2 small to medium zucchinis, cubed small (about 1/4th-inch squares)
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced small, optional


Garnish:

3 medium tomatoes, diced small
Fresh grated parmesan cheese
Italian olives
BioSalt (recipe on this blog)


Method:

Mix all listed ingredients together thoroughly, adding lemon juice to taste.
Pack in air-tight containers in the refrigerator.
This keeps well several days because no salt has been added yet.
To serve, salt only your individual serving, to taste.
Garnish with fresh chopped tomatoes and Parmesan cheese then serve.

Remember, DO NOT ADD SALT if you plan on storing any length of time



Tips:

If dried herbs are used, the flavor may be a little flat tasting. You can amp up the flavor by adding some additional dried oregano plus dried basil, to taste.


Note:

Adding salt or any ingredients containing salt to the quinoa salad makes the juices leach out and get watery and yucky. You will not be able to store it in the refrigerator either.

That includes cheeses, soy sauce, Bragg's Aminos, etc...

Add salt and your salty ingredients only when eating it - because it does need salt!

Ascorbic acid powder added to all of your quinoa Tabouli salads has the big benefits of increasing the salad's shelf-life, keeping it fresh flavored longer. It also keeps the greens crisp and green


Enjoy!

Leila.