I have developed a love for quinoa. It has been called the latest superfood, and I love to try to get more nutrition into my kids any way I can without them even knowing it. Red quinoa looks so pretty cooked and made me think of Christmas. With our hot climate in Australia, I would much rather have salads to eat on Christmas day, so here is one just a bit different. Oh, and you don’t need to wait for Christmas to have it… is great with a BBQ or as a side to any dish, any time of year.
I have used the inner light coloured leaves from a bunch of celery for this salad. The darker leaves are apparently high in Salicylates. We are fine with the lighter leaves, but if you are in strict elimination phase, you could leave them out.
The dressing is from another one of my recipes which you must try, Seared Scallop Salad with Maple Poppyseed Dressing, I just left out the poppy seeds for this recipe. If you would like to make a meal out of this salad, it would be great with diced cooked chicken stirred through it too.
Pear and Red Quinoa Salad
150g red quinoa
800g water
2 tablespoons Vegetable Stock Concentrate
3 spring onions
2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
2 celery stalks, sliced thinly
A handful of the inner lighter coloured leaves from the bunch celery, chopped
½ cup raw cashews
4 – 5 pears, peeled and diced
Rinse quinoa well for a few minutes under running water in small weave colander or overnight. Pour the 800g water into Thermomix bowl with the stock. Put the basket in the bowl with the quinoa in it. Cook 15 mins 100 speed 3. Allow quinoa to cool.
Or cook in a saucepan to the packets directions with Vegetable Stock Concentrate added to the water.
Prepare and chop all ingredients. Gently stir ingredients through the quinoa once cooled to combine.
Maple dressing
1/4 teasp salt
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons pear syrup from tinned pears
1/4 teasp citric acid
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/3 cup Rice bran oil
Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake well to mix. Shake well before use.
Pour dressing over the salad and serve.
Tips:
Leave the pears till last to peel and stir through when closer to serving so they don’t go brown.
Keep salad in the fridge until serving.
This was a great success with both me and family. Very refreshing and delicious! I am having this one on our Christmas table.
That’s wonderful Heather! Merry Christmas. 🙂