Nena's Quinoa Salad

Nena Niessen

Ingredients  

  • 1 cup of cooked quinoa
  • 1/2 cup of slice baby tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup of chop cilantro
  • 1/4 cup of raw slice almond
  • 1/2 cup of chop very thin raw broccoli
  • ½ avocado cut in little square if desire
  • 1 cup of arugula or micro green

Method

Place the cooked quinoa in a medium bowl and add the dressing.  Add the chop cilantro, the chop almond, the chop broccoli, the slice baby tomatoes, and the micro greens. Toss gently and enjoyed.

Note: Using a food processor will allow you to get better result when chopping the broccoli.  However you can also use a knife to chop the broccoli very thin.  If you decide to add avocado, add it last so that it won't turn brown and will still look pretty when serving.

Dressing

  • ½ of a cup of chop cilantro
  • 1 garlic cloves
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon of grape seed oil
  • 3 tablespoon of water

Method

Pour all of the ingredients into a blender and blend unit smooth.  Note: Adjust water or oil to thin to desired consistency.

Substitution Note
You may substitute brown rice for quinoa, baby or wild arugual for micro green, and parsley or basil for cilantro in the dressing.

Health Benefits of Quinoa
Quinoa is considered a grain but really is a seed with a nutty flavor when cooked. It's considered a complete protein because it supplies is all amino acids.  Quinoa is low in the glycemic index due to its high fiber content, which makes it an ideal food for people suffering from diabetes. In South America, quinoa was known as “the gold of the Incas.”

Health Benefits of Cilantro
The seed of cilantro is known as coriander and is high on the list of the healing herbs. In parts of Europe, cilantro is referred to as the "anti-diabetes plant." In India, it is known for its anti-inflammatory effects. In dentistry, cilantro is known for the chelator effect of removing heavy metals from the body.

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About Nena

Nena Niessen, author of Cures from the Kitchen, is a Nicaraguan chef who is certified in Plant Based Nutrition and Natural Health. As a two-time survivor of cancer herself, Nena’s passion is cooking for cancer patients and boosting their immune systems through the power of delicious, nutritious food. She is a disease prevention cooking expert who only cooks with the most natural of foods. She has appeared on PBS’s “Cooking for Health and Pleasure”, is an official blogger in the Huffington Post, and is a contributor for Edible magazine. Nena has worked with many notable clients such as syndicated radio and talk show host Billy Bush, Arianna Huffington, Sugar Ray Leonard and bestselling authors Dr. Harvey Karp and Robert O. Young; All of whom sing the praises of a woman whose mission is to help people achieve and maintain good health as well as aid in the prevention of disease through the use of healthful, all natural foods. Find Nena online at www.CuresFromtheKitchen.net.