So this is my mom’s recipe for a Quinoa salad – it’s really easy, and it’s awesome because it’s basically a meal all in itself – it’s got protein and veggies and tastes delicious. Quinoa is a favorite of mine because it has a ton of protein and is a good alternative to rice or other grains. You can find it in pretty much any store, and most health food stores will always have it.

To start, boil two cups of quinoa in four cups of water (we add a vegetable bullion cube and a pinch of salt to give the it extra flavor) for less than fifteen minutes. You just want all the water to be absorbed and the quinoa to be light and fluffy. While it’s boiling, you can chop up the rest of the ingredients:

Beans (I like Kidney beans) – one cup or so
Cucumber – one, peeled, seeds removed, and chopped
Yellow bell pepper – one, seeds removed and choped
Tomato – one, seeds removed and chopped
Red onion – one half, chopped
Parsley – a handful, finely chopped
Walnuts – a handful, finely chopped

Add all the ingredients and quinoa in a big glass bowl and mix together – add in garlic, pepper, and sea salt (I like Himilayin sea salt) to taste.
For a dressing, just a basic balsamic vinegar and olive oil with a little salt and pepper mixted together – mix in with the salad. And that’s it! It lasts for a couple of days and is perfect for lunch, I take mine in some tupperware to the set.