Prima Donna Quinoa Salad

Have you ever tried Summer Fresh Seven Grain Salad? It. Is. DELICIOUS. Unfortunately, it's also expensive. So in a moment of inspiration, I tried to duplicate it here at home (and, hopefully, make it a little bit healthier, too.)

If you've never cooked with quinoa before, don't be intimidated. It's similar in flavor to barley or couscous, and is really good for you! Unlike other grain products it is very high in protein AND fibre - making it an ideal diet food (your body takes longer to digest protein and fibre than, say, sugar or other carbohydrates.) I just followed the directions on the box when I prepared it and it was easy peasy.

So, here we go!

Prima Donna Quinoa Salad

Dressing:
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp canola oil
1 tbsp dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp salt
lots and lots of freshly ground pepper

Mix all the dressing ingredients in a shake-able container and let stand. Meanwhile, prepare the following according to the package directions:

1/2 cup of couscous (cooked)
1/2 cup of quinoa (cooked)
1/2 cup of lentils (I used the canned ones to save on prep)

Combine in a bowl and add about 1/4 cup of chopped green onion. Drizzle dressing over top, stir, and refrigerate at least 1.5 hours. Check and adjust seasonings after this time - the longer it sits, the more mellow the flavors become, so you may want a little more vinegar.

Enjoy!