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Colorful Quinoa Brown Rice Salad

*This is a sponsored post.  I recieved products to use in the creation of my #CookoutWeek recipes. All opinions are my own.*

#CookoutWeek 2018 is here! During the next week, I am joining over 50 of my blogger friends to celebrate summer by posting delicious cookout-themed recipes. If you love grilling, frozen treats, picnics, berries, s'mores, campfire meals, and other summer goodies... you are in the right place!

To kick things off, I've sharing Colorful Quinoa Brown Rice Salad, a recipe that I've adapted slightly from Taste of Home.  Back in October, I changed my eating habits, and part of that change was trying new things.  Quinoa was on the list to try, and I've found a brown rice/quinoa blend that I love.

When I saw the recipe for this salad, I used that as the jumping off point, and then followed the rest of the recipe as it was written.  While the quinoa and brown rice cooked, I chopped all the veggies.  So many beautiful colors and textures.  I keep my gingerroot in the freezer, and used a microplane to grate it.  That really helped it get distributed evenly throughout the dish.

This comes together so quickly, and it gets better as it sits.  I just gave the lidded bowl a shake when I passed by the fridge.  It was the perfect side to some burgers, and it was awesome with some leftover diced grilled chicken rolled into a multi grain tortilla. Next time I might even add some diced jalapeno.  Thank you to Catherine T. for sharing her recipe!



Colorful Quinoa Brown Rice Salad

Colorful Quinoa Brown Rice Salad

ingredients:

  • 1 3/4c water
  • 1 pkg quinoa (I used Near East Quinoa and Brown Rice, omitting the spice packet)
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium cucumber, seeded and chopped
  • 1 medium sweet orange pepper, chopped
  • 1 medium sweet yellow pepper, chopped
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • DRESSING:
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 teaspoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon grated lime zest
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh gingerroot
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

instructions:

  1. In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add quinoa and brown rice. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 12-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat; fluff with a fork. Transfer to a large bowl; cool completely.
  2. Stir spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and green onions into quinoa. In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients until blended. Drizzle over quinoa mixture; toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving.
Slightly adapted from : https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/colorful-quinoa-salad
quinoa, salad,
Vegetables, side dishes, healthy
American
Created using The Recipes Generator






Here's a full list of the bloggers participating in #CookoutWeek 2018! You can find yummy recipes by checking out any of the links below: The PinterTest Kitchen ♥ 2 Cookin MamasA Day in the Life on the FarmA Kitchen Hoor's AdventuresApril GoLightlyBlogghettiBottom Left of the MittenCheese Curd In ParadiseChef Sarah ElizabethCoconut & LimeCookaholic WifeCookwithRenuDaily Dish RecipesEveryday EileenFairyburgerFaith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered AccompliceFamily Around the TableFix Me a Little LunchFor the Love of FoodFrankly EntertainingFrugal & FitGet the Good Stuff!Hardly A GoddessHerbivore CucinaJoin Us, Pull up a ChairJolene's Recipe JournalJonesin' For TasteKaren's Kitchen StoriesKelly Lynn’s Sweets & TreatsMildly MeanderingMoore or Less CookingOur Good LifeOven Tales By SyamaPalatable PastimeSarah Cooks the BooksSavory MomentsSeduction In The KitchenSweet CoraliceTampa Cake GirlTechnotiniThat RecipeThe Baking FairyThe Beard and The BakerThe Simple SupperThe Spiffy CookieThe Weekday GourmetThis is How I CookWho Needs A Cape?Wildflour's Cottage Kitchen






Comments

  1. What a great way to "eat a rainbow" . This is a gorgeous salad Jolene.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! It's a lot easier for me to eat healthy if it looks pretty too :)

      Delete
  2. Another reminder that I don't use quinoa nearly as often as I should. This looks like a lovely summer side!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm just sorry I waited so long to try it!

      Delete
  3. It just so happens that I recently made a whole bunch of quinoa, so I'm definitely looking forward to making this hopefully soon! :]! Love all the colors!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is just about the most nutritious salad ever! And beautiful! I need to break out the quinoa.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I'm pretty sure some version of it will be in my fridge all summer long :)

      Delete
  5. This salad is so incredibly gorgeous. I love all of the ingredients found in this and pinned to make later!! <3

    ReplyDelete
  6. Replies
    1. Helps to balance out all the other not so healthy stuff I'll eat ;)

      Delete

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