Costco Quinoa Salad

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 cups red and quinoa (mixed)
• kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, more as needed
• 3 tablespoons vinegar or 3 tablespoons rice vinegar, more as needed
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, more as needed
• 1 -2 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
• fresh ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup chopped roma tomato
• 3/4 cup diced english cucumber (1/2 inch dice)
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced scallion
• 3/4 cup diced red bell pepper (1/4 inch dice)
• 1 cup cooked red lentil
• 1 cup cooked mung beans
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (leaves and stems)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Recipe

• 1 rinse quinoa thoroughly under cold water and drain.
• 2 bring 7 cups water to a boil in a 4 quart pot over high heat.
• 3 add 3/4 teaspoons salt; add quinoa, reduce heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally and adding more boiling water as needed to keep the quinoa covered, until tender (about 15 to 20 minutes).
• 4 drain and rinse the quinoa with cold water to stop the cooking.
• 5 transfer quinoa to a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss lightly to coat.
• 6 spread the quinoa on the baking sheet and cool completely at room temperature or in the fridge.
• 7 put vinegar and lemon juice in a small bowl and gradually whisk in the 1/3 cup olive oil (vinaigrette).
• 8 whisk in lemon zest; taste; season with salt, pepper and additional vinegar and lemon juice or olive oil as needed.
• 9 place cooked and cooled quinoa in large serving bowl and toss to break up any clumps.
• 10 add tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions, bell peppers, lentils, mung beans, cilantro and parsley plus 1/2 cup vinaigrette and toss.
• 11 taste and season as needed with more vinaigrette, salt and pepper.
• 12 serve or refrigerate for up to 1 day.
• 13 if making ahead, allow salad to sit at room temperature so it's not refrigerator-cold and season with more vinaigrette, salt and pepper before serving.