Realizations Inc

My cousin Tim first introduced me to quinoa salad. Sitting on his deck overlooking the “inside passage” (he calls it Georgia Straits or something like that) watching Orcas migrate northward is a great place to eat. No doubt the taste was enhanced by the ambiance, but the salad tastes pretty good in the Napa Valley....

It has become a favorite, enjoyed by almost everyone who tries it. And healthy, too, since quinoa is not a member of the grass family so it is not a true grain or cereal. Rather it is a pseudocereal, more related to beets and spinach. Once considered the gold of the Incas, quinoa is an amino acid-rich (protein) seed that has a fluffy, creamy, slightly crunchy texture and a somewhat nutty flavor when cooked. Of course I had to add my own twist...and I like the diced ingredients to be about ¼ inch in diameter and as uniform as possible.

Ingredients:

• ½ to ¾ cup of raw quinoa (depending on how much of the salad you want it to comprise). Rinse well under cold running water. Bring 1½ cups water to a boil, add quinoa, reduce heat, cover, and simmer. When quinoa is transparent and water is absorbed, drain and set aside to cool.

• 1 cup diced cucumber (washed but unpeeled) – I like long, thin cucumbers
• ¼ cup diced celery
• ¼ cup diced green onions (or more to taste)
• 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped very fine
• ¼ cup toasted slivered almonds
• ¼ cup toasted sunflower seeds
• ¼ of other types of seeds or munchies if desired
• ¼ cup dried figs, dates, or apricots – finely diced

Preparation:

When quinoa is cool, mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
You may add your own favorite salad dressing, such as a raspberry vinaigrette; or prepare the following dressing:

Dressing:

• 1 tsp grated lime or lemon zest
• 3 Tbsp lime or lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp olive oil or sesame oil
• 1 tsp sweetener, if desired (e.g., xylitol, honey)
• ¼ tsp cumin
• ¼ tsp ground coriander
• Salt and pepper to taste, if desired

Pour dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl and mix well.

Serve. May refrigerate up to three days.