With Christmas right around the corner, this dish is something a little festive. Because most people have family and friends constantly around during this time of year, it is important to keep some healthy food that people can munch on when hungry. I find that quinoa salads are a quick and easy dish that can be thrown together a variety of different ways and is generally a crowd pleaser. This can be used as a dish that is meant just as a quick snack or as a dish that can be served during a meal.
Because I am trying to keep it very festive, I decided that I would make a quinoa salad that incorporates both red and green. For the green, I decided that pistachios and fresh basil would complement the red ingredient which is pomegranate seeds. Pomegranate is a great and healthy food to eat because they contain a lot of potassium, they curb your hunger, and are great protection against cancer. Below is the recipe!
Christmas Quinoa with Basil, Pistachios, and Pomegranate Seeds
1 cup quinoa
3/4 cups chopped pistachios
1 pomegranate, seeded
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
2 tablespoons basil, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
Cook the quinoa according to the package. In the meantime, take your pomegranate and cut in half. Then put it over a bowl and beat the back of the pomegranate with a wooden spoon. Once you have seeded your pomegranate, mix in the basil and pistachios. Add your cooked quinoa and then add the oil, vinegar and salt and pepper. Enjoy!
Cook’s Notes: The pomegranate add a nice sweetness to the dish as well as a crunch. I would say to season to taste, thus add more vinegar, oil and salt and pepper if you prefer a stronger taste.
xoxo Sarah
MyFood MyWay 