I didn’t set out to write a post about a spring green quinoa salad. Since returning from Nepal, two weeks before the earthquake, I have been trying to find the right way to compose a post about this amazing country.
I have finally decided upon how I am going to write it and I am even more committed to doing so since hearing of the second earthquake. A tragedy is such an understatement for what has happened to the people of Nepal. That and so much more will be in my next post.
What brought about this recipe, an assembly of chopped ingredients, was my ten year old daughter. This week is SATs week so I thought I would ask her what food she would like me to make for her. “Anything you want”, I said.
Here I was, expecting sausage and mash, lasagne, chocolate cake, steak and chips or apple crumble. But no. A salad is what she said. A salad!
No, she is not anorexic. No she doesn’t have a weight problem. No she is not even a faddy eater.
“Yes!” I thought. My food work as a parent is done. Persistence pays off, big time. She is healthy of her own accord. I am proud.
So here is my dearest, most meaningful recipe to date. For the best ten year old ever.
P.S. She loved it.
Here are some more quinoa and spring salads to inspire you:
Purple sprouting Caesar salad – Rough Measures
Quinoa, lentil & bean salad – Tinned Tomatoes
Quinoa, rocket & pomegranate salad – Hungry Healthy Happy
Conchiglione pasta with pesto, asparagus & bacon – Maison Cupcake
Warm quinoa & rice salad with tofu – Fab food 4 all
Quinoa with roasted butternut squash – A glug of oil
Barley, beetroot & Feta salad – Jen’s food
Char-grilled asparagus, courgette & Halloumi salad – Cook Sister
Spring cous cous salad – Coffee & Vanilla
I am linking to:
Meat Free Mondays – Tinned Tomatoes
Extra Veg – Veggie Desserts, Fuss Free Flavours, Utterly Scrummy
No Croutons Required – Lisa’s Kitchen & Tinned Tomatoes
Simple and in Season – Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary & Ren Behan
Spring Green Quinoa Salad
A healthy and tasty salad idea for spring
Ingredients
- 120 g quinoa cooked according to packet instructions OR pre-cooked
- 1/2 cucumber de-seeded & finely chopped
- 8 radishes thinly sliced into matchsticks
- 4 raw broccoli florets thinly sliced
- 1 medium courgette grated, then squeeze out the juice after grating
- a handful of blanched frozen peas
- 2 sticks of celery finely chopped
- A handful of baby spinach chopped
- 1/2 bunch of fresh mint finely chopped
- 1/2 bunch fresh coriander finely chopped
- 1 lemon zest & juice
- 6 tbsp olive oil approx
- salt & pepper
Instructions
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Place the cooked/pre-cooked and cooled quinoa into a large mixing bowl
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Add in all the ingredients and mix thoroughly together
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Check the seasoning then serve in bowls as a light lunch or as a salad accompaniment
Recipe Notes
A perfect spring salad for vegetarians and vegans.
Oh, that look sooo delicious and is healthy as well, love it! 🙂
And thank you for linking to my spring couscous.
Pleased you like it Margot!
Oh Laura, how sweet! Good luck to your daughter in her exams. This salad looks heavenly. Right up my street, too. I have been thinking of you all following your trip to Nepal. I look forward to reading your post.
Thanks so much Charlotte, I have been struggling with what has happened but now have decide it is time to post something, if only to raise awareness of how awful things are out in Nepal. I can imagine you enjoying this salad too!
Oh this sounds heavenly! Just my kind of salad, and just the sort of thing that would help with studying (what with protein helping brain function and all!) Good choice! 🙂 Thank you for linking up with Simple and in Season, and I look forward to reading your Nepal post.
Yes that’s what I thought, and quinoa is so filling too. Perfect brain food!
It sounds lovely and healthy – I love the fresh herbs in it. I only wish I could get my daughter to eat salad too!
It is a lovely salad Corina, maybe your daughter would prefer a pasta or noodle salad? Always worth a shot!
This looks just perfect for the weather at the moment. I love it when our children surprise us – my DD asked for a snack the other day and as I was bracing myself for a discussion about chocolate & crisps, she said she wanted some brown bread & butter! Hooray!
Good to hear there are so many good treats that our kids enjoy Helen!
So glad you are home and safe. Beautiful recipe Laura!
Thanks Jan, so am I!
This salad looks fantastic, I must try a similar combination. I had been meaning to ask you whether the first earthquake was anywhere near where you stayed since I know it happened so soon after you came back. It’s truly dreadful to hear they’ve had yet another one and makes you remember how much we are at the mercy of nature whatever else appears to be going on.
Thanks so much sarah, I know it’s so awful, can’t stop thinking about it. Pleased you like the salad 🙂
I love it when your children choose a healthy option. What a delicous & colourful looking salad, I’ve bookmarked it for later 🙂
Thanks Sarah, sam here, always a welcome and unexpected surprise!
Very impressed with your daughter!! Looks like an absolutely lovely salad, perfect for spring 🙂
Thanks Becca, so was I!
Gorgeous and go that girl!!! Now let me think. Would Cooper eat that. Hmmmmmm! No! *sigh*
Jac, neither would she a few years ago. Year 6 makes a huge difference, so many changes!
What a wonderful fresh and healthy salad. This is right up my street! 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Hi Emma, so pleased you like it!
Such an awful tragedy (tragedies) in Nepal. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful salad with #ExtraVeg and I’m glad your daughter makes such great food choices.
Thanks Kate, yes I know, terribly sad about Nepal. Let’s hope that’s the end of it for them.
Gorgeous healthy salad Laura:-) My 11 yr old has also been taking her SATS this week but as her 16 yr old brother was also taking his GCSE’s it was him that I asked as to what he’d like to eat and he wanted a warm Lentil, Tomato & Halloumi Salad – so as you say our work is done – vivre le salad:-)
Brilliant Camilla, how good is that! Salads are the way forward, I must try that Halloumi salad for myself 🙂
What a poignant post, Laura. I can’t imagine how you are feeling having meet the Nepalese yourself and experienced their legendary kindness for yourself. And about your daughter too. What a star. Mama done good! What a satisfying answer, and more meaningful to you than she will ever realise.. Until she is a mum herself. I hope things go well for her. IT goes without saying that not only this post speak to me, so does this nourishing, heart-felt salad. xx
Thanks so much Kellie, that is great of you to say so speaking as someone who happens to have a daughter who has now grown up and taken all of your good food habits with her. You must be very happy too!
I’m impressed your daughter wanted a salad. This is an ideal spring / summer salad. Thanks so much for sharing with NCR.
I always free so much better after a massive salad, and how grown up of your daughter to ask for one.
thnk you for linking up to #ExtraVeg
I don’t think I would have asked for salad at 10 years old, well done on inspiring a young foodie! Hope all the exams went well.