This week at Chews Healthy, we will be making a vegan friendly Mexican inspired Quinoa Salad. This salad is great served up with any main dish, such as grilled chicken breasts. Not to mention that it tastes even better the next day while it sits in your fridge, this allows all of the flavours to become infused together. This salad is enriched high levels of protein and has a small kick of spice for those who love the heat.
For those who do not know about quinoa, it is an ancient, gluten-free grain, which was "...originated in the Andeanregion of Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru, where it was successfully domesticated 3,000 to 4,000 years ago".[1] Quinoa can be used in a large variety of dishes from salads, to breakfast to dinner, it can be used anytime of day and is a great replacement for dishes that require a rice side dish. "One of the best reasons to enjoy quinoa is because it has a high-protein content, which makes it a great cholesterol-free and low-fat source of protein for vegetarians and vegans. According to the USDA nutrient database, 1 cup of cooked quinoa (185 g) contains 8.14 grams of protein. To put that in reference, the recommended daily protein intake is about 56 grams for most men and 46 for most women." [2]
This recipe is the easiest to recreate to date on Chews Healthy, so let's get started!
