Quinoa with Feta and Edamame

I love this quick and easy salad, especially in the summer. It is a colorful, refreshing and healthy addition to a picnic or barBQ. It makes a great side dish or even a light meal on Meatless Mondays.

YIELD: Serves 5

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked Quinoa
2 cups Chicken Broth (or vegetable or beef if you prefer)
½ cup chopped Red Bell Pepper
½ cup chopped Red Onion
½ cup Corn (fresh, frozen or canned – be sure to drain it first)
½ cup shelled Edamame
½ cup chopped Cilantro
¾ cup crumbled Feta Cheese
1/3 cup Italian Dressing (preferably homemade but bottled will do)
¼ teaspoon Salt (or salt to taste)

Directions:

Rinse the quinoa in a wire mesh strainer. Add the broth to a medium size pan. Heat the pan on medium heat. Add the quinoa, stir and bring to a boil. 

Cover the pan and decrease the heat to low and simmer. Let cook about 15 minutes or until the quinoa absorbs the liquid. Then remove from the heat and let cool while preparing the remaining ingredients. Chop the red bell pepper, red onions, and cilantro.

In a medium size bowl, add the red bell pepper, red onions, corn, and quinoa. Then add the Italian salad dressing and stir. Add the edamame and cilantro, and stir.

Next, stir in the feta cheese and add the salt (or salt to taste). Serve chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Red White and Blue Salad

spinach saladWith summer around the corner, I look forward to colorful and delicious salads full of fresh berries. This is one of my favorites. It is not only full of flavor, but also nutritious and pretty too.

Serves: 8

Spinach Salad with Blueberries, Strawberries, Almonds and Feta

Ingredients

8 ounces fresh spinach
6 ounces fresh blueberries
3 ounces fresh raspberries
16 ounces fresh strawberries
1/4 -1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 – 2 ounces crumbled feta cheese
your favorite raspberry, mango or champagne vinaigrette (or try my vinaigrette recipe* below)

Wash all fresh produce and slice the strawberries.  Dump all ingredients in a bowl.  Add dressing to your liking and toss lightly.  Yum Yum!

 

Favorite Raspberry Vinaigrette*

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Shrimp Gazpacho

light and healthy, no-cook meal for a warm summer night.

light and healthy, no-cook meal for a warm summer night.

Shrimp Gazpacho

Ingredients

2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2-3/4 pound cooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined
3/4 pound cherry tomatoes diced into 6ths (I used a combination of red and yellow ones and rinse off most of the seeds)
1 red bell pepper, chopped into 1/4-1/2 inch dice
1/2 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, chopped into a 1/4-1/2 inch dice
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1/2-1 large jalapeño chili, minced
1 1/2 cups (12 oz) V-8 spicy tomato juice, chilled
Lemon wedges

Preparation

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Chicken Mango Salad

This is  great summer salad that's easy, tasty and good for you too.

This is great summer salad that’s easy, tasty and good for you too.

Chicken and Mango Salad

Salad

3 green onions, sliced (including greens)
2 mangos (ripe)
4 cups of shredded chicken (I use a whole roasted chicken, available in the deli section of most grocery stores and finger shred it)
2 stalks of celery, sliced
1 head of red lettuce, sliced or torn into strips(approx. 4 cups)
½ cup slivered almonds

photo 10

Dressing

1/3 cup peanut oil
¼ cup white wine vinegar
1T Dijon mustard
3 tsp. Asian chili oil
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
½ cup Mango Chutney (I like Trader Joes Mango Ginger Chutney)

 Directions
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Spicy Chicken Thai Noodle Salad

This is always a crowd pleaser

This is always a crowd pleaser

Spicy Thai Noodle Salad

INGREDIENTS

3-4 cups oven-roasted chicken, shredded (as a short cut, pickup from the grocery store on the way home)
1/4 cup sesame oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 T sugar
2 T hot chili oil
2 T  balsamic vinegar
1 lb. package spaghetti
1/2 cup sesame seeds, toasted
1 cup green onions, thinly sliced on the diagonal, for garnish

 INSTRUCTIONS

Shred the chicken and set aside.  In a large bowl, whisk together sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, chili oil and vinegar.  Cook spaghetti, drain, rinse with cold water and drain again.  With your hands, immediately toss the pasta with the dressing, making sure pasta is completely and evenly coated.  Add the chicken and toss again.  Add seeds and continue folding dressing through the pasta and chicken.  Transfer to a shallow platter, top with green onions and serve at room temperature.  Great for a backyard barbecue.  This dish keeps well for up to two days, but add the green onions only shortly before serving.

Enjoy!

Adapted from my dear friend, Heather Boyd

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