Pretty in Pink Salad with Quinoa (vegan)

When my daughter decided to become a vegetarian, I worried how she was going to get complete proteins without eating meat products. So I was happy when I learnt that certain combinations of plant ingredients (e.g. beans & rice, hummus & pita bread, tofu & rice, beans & tortilla, lentils & bulgur, pea & bread) will provide the complete proteins even if not eaten together at the same meal but within the same day. But I was even happier to learn there are actually some types of plant food that by themselves supply us with all essential amino acids, and quinoa is one of them.

So I serve quinoa quite often now and we all do enjoy it a lot. However due to its natural bitterness, it has to be prepared well before cooking to eliminate this slightly nasty taste. Once it’s cooked properly (as per instructions included in the recipe below), it can be used in this yummy and pretty looking pink salad.

INGREDIENTS (4 portions):

1 cup quinoa,

2 cups water,

0.25 tsp salt,

dash of olive oil,

0.5 cup raisins,

0.5 cup walnuts broken into pieces,

1.5 cup pomegranate seeds (from approximately 1 big or 2 small pomegranates),

0.5 red onions finely chopped,

juice from 1 lemon,

2 beetroots (approximately 300-350g) chopped into 1.5 cm cubes,

3 handfuls chopped parsley,

Salt and pepper.

METHOD:

1. Prepare the quinoa: put it to a fine mesh strainer, rinse it under running cold water rubbing the seeds with each other with your fingers (for at least 1 minute) and drain well. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a pot over a medium heat and fry the drained quinoa for about 1 minute till the rest of water evaporates. Add water, 0.25 tsp salt and bring to boil. Lower the heat and cook covered for approx. 15 minutes. Take it out from the heat and let it rest covered for 5 minutes more. Fluff the quinoa with a fork. The quinoa has to be dry, in case there is still some water left, transfer it to a strainer and let it drain completely.
2. While you are waiting for the quinoa to be ready, combine the onion and lemon juice and let it marinate for a few minutes.
3. Combine all the ingredients, add salt and pepper according to your taste and stir gently.