I’ve kept my resolve this summer to include lots of salads and healthy foods in my meal planning. It isn’t difficult to do when I’m at a fantastic farmer’s market every Saturday and have access to a great selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. My usual salads are simple and include fresh greens, tomatoes, avocado and whatever else I happen to have in the fridge, but every so often I crave something hearty with lots of flavor. When I was in Chicago visiting my daughter last summer we purchased a scrumptious quinoa salad and some pickled shrimp at Fox & Obel and I vowed to try to recreate the recipes when I got home. Take a look at their website if you have a minute. It’s an amazing gourmet market that I could spend hours in (and spend a fortune in). This salad is close and has all the yummy Southwestern flavors that we love. I hope you will try it. My favorite pickled shrimp recipe is one I found years ago on the Food Channel. This is one of the few Paula Deen recipes that doesn’t have butter in it! The shrimp and onions are delicious and I often serve them as an appetizer or in a seafood salad.
- 3 cups water or broth
- 1-1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Juice from 3 limes
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle chili power or cayenne
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can black beans, drained
- ½ cup fresh or frozen corn
- ½ red onion, diced
- ½ cup roasted red pepper, diced
- 1 tablespoon jalapeno, minced
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- ½ cup queso fresco, optional
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Combine quinoa, water or broth in a medium pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Let cool.
- Make dressing by combining lime juice, cumin, chili powder, chipolte chili powder, vinegar, olive oil and garlic in a small bowl.
- In a separate bowl combine black beans, corn, onion, red pepper, jalapenos and cilantro.
- After quinoa cools combine it with black bean mixture. Stir in cheese if desired.
- Toss with dressing and serve at room temperature or chilled.
In case you are ever on Jeopardy here is some quinoa trivia that might come in handy. The grain has an interesting history that goes back centuries and has become a favorite ingredient to those of us who are watching our diets and trying to eat better. Like couscous it absorbs the flavors of the foods it is mixed with and is perfect for quick and satisfying salads and side dishes.
Quinoa Trivia:
- Pronounced “KEEN-wah” (I know…nothing like it looks)
- Stable grain of Inca, Mayan and native Americans
- Quinoa means “Mother Grain”
- Ancient Incas thought it was sacred
- Incan armies were sustained for days on “war balls” which were a mixture of quinoa and fat
- Grown in the US only since 1980 (in Colorado)
- Widely grown in Bolivia, Chile, Peru
- Quick cooking whole grain (cooks in 12-15 minutes)
- It is available in white and red varieties (white is more common in the US)
- The shape is small and oval, and it looks like a cross between a sesame seed and millet
Nutritional benefits:
- Whole grain
- Gluten Free
- Complete protein (contains all essential amino acids)
- Twice the fiber of pasta or brown rice
- Higher in calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, and zinc than other whole grains
- Quinoa has a nutty flavor
It’s time again for Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum, Fresh Food Friday at La Bella Vita and On the Menu Monday at StoneGable. Many thanks to our gracious hosts for inviting us over for the party.
Love quinoa Cathy and I am always on the lookout for a new way to enjoy them; this one has already been printed out; thank you. Anxious to Jeopardy’s new season to start; NEVER miss that show.
Rita
I love quinoa Cathy and this recipe is timely because we are having company in two weeks who are vegetarians. I will be making this with the pickled shrimp on the side for the rest of us. By the way, my Son, who is a computer engineer, will soon be helping me with a redesign of my blog and I gave him your blog as an example of good design.
Penny recently posted..Labor Day on the Lake
Morning Cathy. Quinoa is one of my new favorite foods. Only fixed it for the very first time about 6 months ago. We loved it. So versatile!
Hope you are well.
Kris
Thanks for this Cathy, I enjoy the nutty flavor of quinoa but haven’t made it myself. Now I’ll have a recipe to try! Thanks also for the pronunciation again, I keep forgetting how to say it! LOL
The quinoa and shrimp look great. I don’t use quinoa enough – thanks for the inspiration!
recently posted..Gorgonzola Garlic Bread
I have never tried quinoa, but you sure make it look & sound DELICIOUS, Cathy! I’m copying this recipe to try “someday”.
I’m also making those chocolate chips AGAIN…first time was for the g’kidlets & now I’m doing them for DH’s golfing buds outing. They are YUMMO! Thank you again for all the wonderful recipes you share.
Hugs,
Rett
Rettabug recently posted..♪♫ A Sundress out of Peachy-Rose Fabric ♫♪
Cathy, your pictures are just amazing.
Ann
Ann recently posted..Beef Three Ways…………
Such a presentation! I am coming late to the quinoa party and need to hop on board. Love every ingredient!
Inspired by eRecipeCards.com recently posted..GIVEAWAY and First Time Making Artisan Bread ala Slim Shoppin
Beautiful photo and beatiful salad with all of my favourite ingredients!
LOVELY Cathy!
Karen
Karen @ Lavender and Lovage recently posted..The Vintage Tea Party Book and The Good Table…arrived on my doorstep today!
this is a great recipe! lovely flavors and a fantastic picture – great post!
Mary
Mary recently posted..Paris
Ha ha ha! I am sitting here in my childhood home in Florida, on vacation, writing a blog post about how my healthy-eating good intentions fly out the window whenever I’m home. I’ve been eating pretty bad and your salad makes me feel it! I will be eating foods like your gorgeous, healthy salad as soon as I return home. Promise. Love when you add seafood!
Jamie recently posted..LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL – IFBC NOLA
I’m with Rita, I love to find new ways to use quinoa in salads, my favorite way to eat it. I also read that quinoa is treated like a grain but is actually a seed…just some more quinoa trivia.
Lyndsey ~The Tiny Skillet~ recently posted..7 Links Challenge – and 2 Years!
Another delicious salad to enjoy in the waning days of summer! I love pickled shrimp.
Best,
Bonnie
Bonnie recently posted..Hydrangea Drying
Quinoa is my favorite food of 2011..
I even dream about it when I have no type of quinoa salad in the fridge..thank you for this one and the links.
It’s soo good isn’t it?
Monique recently posted..Monograms and Muffins~
You know my love for shrimp, so I know this is something I would adore. I have a bag of quinoa on the shelf just waiting for the right recipe. Looks like I’ve found it.
Sam
My Carolina Kitchen recently posted..Salmon Smothered with Tomatoes and Basil
I have a bag of quinoa in the pantry that’s been quite the intimidation for several months now. Ha! One of these days I’m going to cook it!!
Karen recently posted..Mexican Style Hot Pickled Carrots
This salad looks fab! I love quinoa!!!
Kathleen recently posted..The BEST Chocolate Cookies. Ever. (imho)
oh this is gorgeous, and SO healthy, i love this dish!
teresa recently posted..Berries and Chocolate
I’m so far behind, Cathy! I just tried my first quinoa salad at Whole Foods last week and need to make some at home soon. This one sounds wonderful! My eyes popped out at that gorgeous bread below…I’m heading there next 🙂
Susan recently posted..Creamy Pasta Salad
I’ve heard about how healthy quinoa is – but have never known how to prepare it! Thanx for the tips, and have a great weekend!
Red Nomad OZ recently posted..Australia’s Scenic Public Toilets #17 – White Cliffs, New South Wales
Gorgeous! We adore shrimp around here, even the little ones. Wow, you are making me salivate.
Jacqueline recently posted..Avocado Salsa
A great photo of a wonderful sounding recipe. I love southwestern flavors having grown up in Texas. I haven’t had pickled shrimp in so long. I must make this soon.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Peppers and Eggs, A Simple Italian Meal
When I first read the title of this I was thinking “pickled shrimp???’ and I instantly got a visual of the nasty jars of pickled eggs and pigs feet they used to show on TV in bars. But then I clicked over and YUM!!! Your salad (and the shrimp) look wonderful!!!
Erin @ Making Memories recently posted..Milk Chocolate Covered Raspberry Jellies
Beautiful presentation Cathy and pickled shimp is the second thing I’ve read about to today that I’d never heard of.
Larry recently posted..Roan Mountain Day Trip
Sounds good on a hot summer day. Lovely to see you at the market yesterday.
Marilyn recently posted..Iced Tea Weather
Sounds like a very healthy salad Cathy! I’ve never tried quinoa, I’m sure I’m missing something yummy:@)
Delicious, healthy, beautiful & satisfying too, no doubt! I’ll be making this salad this week! Thanks for sharing~
A beautiful salad and I know it taste like a million dollars.
bj recently posted..…beans beans…the wonderful fruit
I had never heard of quinoa until I started blogging. When I heard how healthy and delicious it was, I ran out and bought a bag. I still haven’t used it…lol I guess I really did not know what to do with it. I will have to try this wonderful salad. It sounds great. My family and I love southwestern flavors; so this would be a big hit:)
Raina recently posted..Homemade Twix Bars
Was Paula sick that day, no butter?
Ramona recently posted..Dixie Grapes
What a gorgeous and healthy salad! Just wonderful 🙂
Magic of Spice recently posted..What’s for snack time? Puff Pastry Pizzas – Two Ways