Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Quinoa Salad with Asian-Style Dressing



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is the second of the two quinoa recipes I've been working on for Meatless Monday. It has a vaguely Asian flair and it is ideal for families who are trying to cut back on animal protein consumption. It also helps solve the problem of cooks who still have committed carnivores sitting at their tables. This recipe can be enhanced with shrimp for those who feel the need to consume more than seeds or grain with their meals. It is a lovely recipe that originally appeared in The New York Times. It is really easy to assemble and the Asian-style dressing appeals to a broad range of diners. I would caution that the recipe, as written, makes an awful lot of dressing for the quantity of ingredients actually used in the salad. The first time I made this dish I thought the ingredients were drowning in salad dressing. I've since cut way back on the amount of dressing I use when making this. The bitterness that many associate with quinoa can be avoided by a thorough rinsing of the seeds before they are boiled. I actually toast and rinse mine before using them. This salad is packed with flavor and I think you'll enjoy it for lunch or a light supper. Here's the recipe.

Quinoa Salad with Asian-Style Dressing...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, courtesy of The New York Times

Ingredients:

Dressing
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoons seasoned rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger or fresh ginger to taste (more to taste)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Salt to taste
Pinch of cayenne
2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil or walnut oil
1/4 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons buttermilk
Salad
3 cups cooked quinoa (3/4 cup uncooked)
4 scallions, white and light green parts, thinly sliced
1 small cucumber, halved, seeded and thinly sliced on the diagonal
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Optional: 12 to 16 cooked medium shrimp, peeled

Directions:
1) In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together lime juice, rice wine vinegar, ginger, garlic, salt, cayenne, sesame oil, canola oil, and buttermilk.
2) In a salad bowl, combine the quinoa, scallions, cucumber, and cilantro. Toss with dressing and divide among salad plates. Top each portion with 3 or 4 shrimp if desired, and serve. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Quinoa Salad with Arugula, Asparagus and Avocado - Cooking with Amy
Beet and Quinoa Salad - Nami-Nami
Lemon Scented Quinoa Salad - 101 Cookbooks
Mushroom Quinoa Stew - Bread and Honey
Quinoa Salad - mmm-yoso!!!
Lemon Garlic Quinoa Salad - Julie Jams
Warm Quinoa Salad with Edamame and Lemon-Tarragon Dressing - One Perfect Bite

56 comments :

Nisha said...

Wow this is perfect , i'm going to try this for breakfast tomorrow.

Pat said...

Your blog is a delight! When we return home, the Lime Curd recipe will be tried out!! Thank you for visiting me too...I hope to post a photo of the crab cakes we enjoyed at an Anchorage restaurant the other night. While they were excellent, it was the tartar sauce that accompanied it - yum! Made with chopped artichoke hearts...
Have a good week.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Another winner for meatless Mondays Mary.

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

I never knew to rinse and toast- my family is not fond of quinoa- but now I'm wondering if it's because I prepared it wrong- we all love couscous and personally I find the two similar in taste-
Thanks!

Sushma Mallya said...

Yummy dish, looks fab...have a lovely day mary,take care

penny aka jeroxie said...

I need to use my quinoa more often. It is so healthy and good for us.

James said...

This looks so good! I'm especially curious to try out your Asian-style dressing!

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

Oh Mary, I adore quinoa and your recipe promises to be a fantastic salad!

:)
ButterYum

Ginny Hartzler said...

This one looks like it would taste totally different from your last one. These would both be good for people who are just trying quinoa for the first time.

Rachana said...

Wow! A great recipe, Mary :-)

Easy Recipes said...

awesome post! what a delicious recipe! can I take it tasty! :)

Kim @ Two Good Cookies said...

Mmmm. I love quinoa. I also can't wait to try some of that dressing too!

Joanne said...

Quinoa overload! As if there were such a thing. I love the Asian flavors in this...they are one of my favorite pairings with quinoa.

marla {family fresh cooking} said...

Mary, I am assuming you rinse the quinoa & then toast? I really like that idea. Anything toasted has so much more flavor. This quinoa sounds great. I never would have thought to do the buttermilk & sesame oil together. Sounds wonderful!

Simply Life said...

what a great salad!

Katerina said...

I like the addition of shrimps in this salad. I love Asian flavors.

Unknown said...

I love the tips on Quinoa from today and yesterday. I have never cooked with it but now I really want to, especially with the Asian style dressing, I do love those flavors! It looks delicious!

Rita said...

Thank you for adding to my quinoa recipes; I am really trying to serve this more often. this recipe sounds really nice.
Rita

Kate said...

This looks great! I can't eat soy, and I've been looking for some recipes with Asian flair that don't have soy sauce in it - thanks!

Priya Suresh said...

Interesting and healthy salad, am loving it..

Susi's Kochen und Backen said...

While not as colorful as your creation yesterday it still looks and sounds like a wonderful salad worth exploring!

Gloria Baker said...

My daugther love quinoa dear Mary and this look delicious! (she is a veggie) huggs and have a lovely day, gloria

High Plains Drifters said...

Quinoa + Asian dressing = very cool mash-up.

OBTW, played around with your zucchini cornbread the other day. Came out great. Cheers!

Jeannie said...

You are getting me really curious about the taste of quinoa Mary...both your quinoa dishes look so delicious!

Tanvi said...

Hello Mary,
Absolutely love your blog.
The clicks are warm & the recipes are easy.First time here and loved it.
This salad is looks like a winner!

http:sinfullyspicy.wordpress.com

Valérie said...

Interesting twist, quinoa with Asian flavours! Great for summer, too!

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

You've done it again, Mary. This is a real winner!!!

The Blonde Duck said...

I'd love to try quinoa but they quit carrying it at the store!

Radhika said...

I love the ingredients in your dressing. Salad looks yumm.

RamblingTart said...

Thank you for the tip about cutting back on the dressing, Mary. It is a discouraging thing to make a delicious dish and then find it swimming in too much dressing. :-) I love quinoa salads very much and am excited about this Asian inspired one. :-)

Cristie said...

Mary, Thank you so much for the tips on quinoa. I love using this grain for it's protein value and hadn't considered toasting it- you're brillant! Both your salad's will be on my list to try in the next few weeks.

From the Kitchen said...

I think the dressing sounds delicious. I'm happy for more substantial salad offerings as I'm dreading leaving the fresh salads of summer behind soon.

Best,
Bonnie

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

It looks really good. Think I will take the carnivore route and make it with shrimp

Abby said...

I've only tried quinoa once, and I was so disappointed because it tasted AWFUL. I now know to rinse the stuff first, but I've been too gunshy to try again. Maybe if I rinse well and toast like you suggest it will turn out better for me!

Nancy said...

We are not going meatless for five days a week. This is perfect!

Faith said...

I absolutely love the Asian flavors in this salad. And it's so pretty! I love the gorgeous platter you served it on, Mary.

Allie and Pattie said...

Mary, this looks lovely. When quinoa started showing up in everyday supermarkets I started encouraging clients to try it- love it
xoxo Pattie

We Are Not Martha said...

I love quinoa, especially in salads, but never thought to add an Asian flair to it! I definitely need to try this :)

Sues

Andrea@WellnessNotes said...

I have some leftover cooked quinoa in the fridge. And I think I have all the ingredients for this salad. I may make it tonight!

Julia @MĂ©langer said...

What a wonderful meatless dish. I really love cooking without meat so this is great inspiration!

Adventures in Domestic Cooking said...

This looks super good, mind if I have some!?=)
I miss you lovely comments you would leave on my blog, they always made my day!!=)

Jen_from_NJ said...

Mary, thank you so much for your words of comfort. Thank you also for the great quinoa idea - the dressing sounds great!

The Words Crafter said...

This looks really good. I'm going to find a fork that will just reach through cyber space and one day, I'm gonna gobble up whatever goodie you've posted about that day!!!!

Deana Sidney said...

great looking combination... I had quinoa for dinner and everytime I have it I ask myself, why don't I eat this more often. It is sooo good for you. Love the dressing recipe... must be great with the grain.

Pam said...

The Asian style dressing sounds like a wonderful addition to the quinoa salad.

scrambledhenfruit said...

Such a lovely meatless meal- I love the Asian twist!

Krista said...

This sounds perfectly wonderful. I love it as a meatless meal option. I have yet to try quinoa on my family...but it's on my list!

Sutapa said...

Wow! that's a great recipe to try! I love your Asian style dressing!
Have a good day!

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

Mary, how do you rinse the quinoa? It goes through the holes so I make something up and it is horrid to get it through it. Therefore, I don't make it enough.

This salad sounds like it is filled with flavor and quinoa blends so nicely with whatever you bring to it.

Adelina said...

Quinoa is indeed the grain of the future, for the reasons you have mentioned!Your salad is indeed interesting and worth trying. I just love those white rings that form in quinoa after it is cooked- gives it a unique character.

Lucie said...

I often make quinoa salad but have never tried a similar recipe--looking forward to it, Mary!

Deb in Hawaii said...

Wonderful--I love quinoa but usually go with Latin or Indian flavors in it--I like the idea of the Asian-style dressing. Yum! ;-)

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Mary - You inspired me with your last quinoa post to try cooking with it, and today I made a version similar to yours.

L'Chicken said...

YUM! I can't wait to try this. I adore quinoa. Thanks, Mary!

Tavern on the Concho said...

I am such a big new fan of quinoa and since we have cut back on animal fat consumption at my house, I'm always in search of good meatless dishes. This Asian infused salad sounds perfect! Love your blog!

The Food Hound said...

Thanks for stopping by The Food Hound! I just perused your latest recipes, and this one looks fabulous! I love quinoa!

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