orange mint quinoa salad

Hi there! This weekend I came up with a refreshing springy salad that I'd like to share...

Orange Mint Quinoa Salad

1 cup of quinoa

1 cup chickpeas, cooked

3 scallions, sliced on bias, white and green

1/2 fennel bulb, sliced thin and cut to 1/2 inch pieces (reserve feathery fronds)

a large handful of fresh mint, torn

about 10 almonds, chopped

one juicy orange, cut in half

1/2 orange, peeled and cut in small pieces

a pour of orange infused olive oil or your fav

one teaspoon garlic paste or one clove, minced fine and crushed

3 tablespoons Greek yogurt

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

Cook quinoa in two cups of water (with salt or dissolve half a vegetable bouillon cube), adding grains when water is boiling; lower to simmer and cook until tender.

Place quinoa in bowl, add chickpeas. Lightly salt and add fresh ground black pepper to taste. Squeeze orange halves over, blend, then add a pour of orange infused olive oil.

Make the yogurt dressing: combine Greek yogurt and garlic paste (or crushed garlic), mayonnaise in a small bowl then blend together with quinoa and chickpeas. Add scallion, fennel slices and fronds, almond pieces, torn mint and orange pieces and combine. Taste, correct seasonings, and garnish with whole mint leaves. Enjoy!

We had a rainy weekend that soaked and replenished bright flowers--tulips at vibrant peak right now:

Have a wonderful week, friends!