Ingredients

The following ingredients have 5 Servings
  • 1 cup quinoa (dry)
  • 1 1/2 cup water
  • Pinch salt
  • 1 bunch asparagus, chopped into 1 inch pieces
  • 2 cups shelled fresh English peas ( available at Trader Joes) or substitute shelled edamame, radishes, cucumber, snow peas or even spring greens.
  • 3 scallions – thinly sliced at a diagonal
  • ½ cup fresh dill ( 2 x .5 ounces packages) chopped  ( or sub Italian parsley)
  • ½ cup Italian parsley, more to taste.
  • 1/4 cup sliced or slivered almonds, toasted ( optional, or sub other nut or seed)
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • zest from 1 lemon
  • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice  ( 1-2 lemons)
  • 1/2-1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • pepper to taste

Instruction

  • Rinse the quinoa and place it in a pot with the water and pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, cover, lower heat, and allow it to simmer on low heat for 12-15 minutes. Turn off heat, and let sit covered for 5 -10 minutes, then uncover, fluff with a fork and let it cool.
  • While the quinoa is cooking, blanch the peas and asparagus in salted boiling water for just a few minutes, until bright and tender. Rinse under cold water.
  • Place the cooled quinoa and blanched veggies in a bowl. Add the scallions, dill and almonds and give a toss. Add the oil, lemon zest and lemon juice and salt, pepper and stir again.
  • Taste, adjust salt and lemon, adding more if you like. If you are making this ahead, be sure to taste before serving as flavors will mellow – so I’ll usually add a little more salt and lemon.
  • Serve with optional avocado, feta, goat cheese, sunflower sprouts.