Mexican Quinoa Salad with Parsley Garlic Dressing

This Parsley and Garlic Dressing is also an excellent salsa. It’s is one of the most resourceful salsas in our culinary repertoire, so simple and full of flavor.

If you want to embrace healthier eating habits this year, use this salsa to give a twist on eggs for breakfast, marinate your vegetables, tofu, or seafood, and enjoy it as a dressing for salads with some lemon juice. Bring it to a party for a dip with some crudités or a spread for sandwiches instead of mayo. Your creativity is the limit! We enjoy it with our Mexican Quinoa which has jalapeño and avocado for a spicy and smooth twist.

Ingredients for the Salad

4 cups quinoa, cooked

½ cup red, green, or yellow bell pepper, finely chopped

¼ cup spring onions, chopped

2 corn kernels, cooked

1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half

¼ cup sundried tomatoes, chopped

¼ cup mint, chopped

¼ cup parsley, chopped

¼ cup pumpkin seeds

1 jalapeño, seeded and minced

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 large avocado, cut into cubes

1 ½ cups parsley-garlic dressing *recipe follows

Method

1. In a large bowl combine the quinoa, bell pepper, spring onions, corn kernels, cherry tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, mint, parsley, pumpkin seeds, and jalapeño. Season with the parsley garlic dressing and season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Allow the salad to marinate for 30 minutes refrigerated and serve cold, topped with avocado cubes, and freshly chopped parsley and mint.

Ingredient for the Parsley Garlic Dressing

 6 garlic cloves, peeled

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

1 tsp honey

½ tsp sea salt

2 cups parsley leaves

Zest of 1 lemon

½ cup extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil

Method

1. Place the garlic, vinegar, honey, and salt in the blender and process until having a paste.
2. Add the parsley leaves, lemon zest, and olive oil. Pulse a few times to combine the ingredients until having a smooth texture.
3. Place the dressing in a mason jar or an airtight container and keep it refrigerated for a couple of days.

Read Nutritionist Linda Illingworth’s Food as Medicine for Bone Health or Download the Mexican Quinoa Salad recipe.