Jalapeno Quinoa Salad

The prepared Jalapeno Quinoa by itself is a perfect side dish.  The jalapeno, green onions and lime as well as the minced onions and garlic powder brighten the taste of quinoa.  This dish is made doubly delightful when eaten as a salad with your favorite vegetables and herbs and a good vinaigrette like the Simple Orange Vinaigrette from this blog.  With the high protein content in quinoa this is a complete meal by itself when served as a salad.   Treat yourself and have a piece or two of good whole wheat crusty bread with this delicious refreshing salad and maybe even a glass of apple cider or your favorite wine with it in front of a fireplace during one of the cold autumn evenings.

Jalapeno Quinoa Salad

• 2 cups prewashed quinoa                  
• 2 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 to 1 jalapeno, chopped finely 
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 2 tbsp dry minced onions
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 2 stalks green onions, chopped
• juice of 1 lime
• Salad vegetables like red or yellow pepper, cucumber, tomato and basil leaves cut into bite sized pieces

Place all the ingredients except the salad vegetables in a rice cooker  and cook using the white rice setting. (If cooking in a pot, place all the ingredients except the salad vegetables in the pot and allow the liquid to boil and then simmer till the quinoa is done).  The rice can be eaten as a side dish at this point.  You can also cool it and serve it with vegetables of your choice and favorite dressing.  I served this with a Simple Orange Vinaigrette posted in this blog.