Quinoa is full of nutrients, antioxidants and can even help balance your blood sugar. As a result, people everywhere are discovering the benefits of quinoa, a delicious whole grain that is easy to digest, full of high quality protein and fiber, and can form the basis for delicious meals. Read more in the recipe notes.
Chickpeas are another protein rich food that are very good for health. Chickpeas, are rich in both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, they provide amount of protein comparable to that of meat or dairy foods without the high calories or saturated fats. This Salad contains both of these powerful ingredients and making this a very healthy, protein rich salad. 
The best part of this salad is that it is going to keep you full for long hours and hence you won’t fell hungry again and again. The freshness of mint and the flavors of garlic makes it one of my favorite salads. I like to eat this warm, but if you want you can eat it cold as well. I am taking this healthy salad to Angie’s Fiesta Friday #108 . Hosted by Angie and this time the co-hosts are Suzanne @ apuginthekitchen and Zeba @ Food for the soul
Here is the recipe to this healthy and delicious salad.
- 1 cup Organic Quinoa
- 1 cup Boiled Chickpeas
- 1/4 cup diced Roasted red bell pepper
- 1/4 cuo diced Orange bell pepper
- 1/2 English cucumber diced
- 1/3 cup diced olives
- 1 stick celery chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped mint leaves
- salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 tsp oilve oil extra Virgin
- Rinse Quinoa in a fine mesh sieve until water runs clear, drain and transfer to a medium pot.
- Bring Quinoa,salt and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.Drain well and keep aside.
- Using the flat side of a knife, mash the garlic into a paste with the pinch of salt. Place in a bowl and add lemon juice, black pepper and olive oil. Set aside.
- In a big mixing bowl,add the cooked quinoa and the chickpeas, olives and bell peppers,celery, cucumber, and mint leaves. Add salt and garlic infused olive oil. Mix well, serve and enjoy
Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is not a grain; it is actually a seed and related to the spinach family. When cooked, quinoa is light, fluffy, slightly crunchy and subtly flavored. It actually cooks and tastes like a grain, making it an excellent replacement for grains that are difficult to digest.Compared to other grains, quinoa is higher in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, manganese, and zinc than wheat, barley, or corn.All quinoa has a bitter-tasting coating on each seed that protects it from being eaten by birds in the field. This is called saponin and must be removed before it is cooked.
Such a great and healthy looking salad. Love all the flavors in it, will definitely be making this to celebrate the upcoming spring 🙂
Thankyou so much Loretta, I am Glad that you liked it!
Refreshing flavors Swati! I love quinoa in all the forms 🙂
Thanks Sonal..
What a beautiful salad. I love chickpeas and this sounds delicious!
Thanks Julie!
What a lovely healthful salad. Thank you so much for bringing this to FF108!