{"id":21314,"date":"2014-08-18T00:30:29","date_gmt":"2014-08-18T04:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=21314"},"modified":"2014-08-17T22:49:57","modified_gmt":"2014-08-18T02:49:57","slug":"arugula-peach-quinoa-salad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2014\/08\/18\/arugula-peach-quinoa-salad\/","title":{"rendered":"Arugula, Peach, Quinoa Salad"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently a friend\u00a0told\u00a0me about this delicious \u2018rice\u2019 salad that she and her family were enjoying that she purchased\u00a0at her favorite grocery store from the fresh salad bar. Well, as it turns out it wasn\u2019t rice<\/em> (when I questioned her thoroughly) but red quinoa<\/strong><\/em><\/span>! \u00a0Oh, I do love quinoa…so I was quite interested! \u00a0Here is my variation on this salad. \u00a0You can surely make this \u2018your own\u2019 by varying the fresh veggies added, what type of fruit you put in (berries would also be lovely!), the kind of vinaigrette you use (perhaps use your family\u2019s favorite bottled vinaigrette!), and what variety\u00a0of nuts you sprinkle across the top! \u00a0I would love to hear how you changed it up; leave a comment below!<\/p>\n

Quinoa <kEEn-wah> is a grain but it is the seed that we eat! (Good news for those who eat low-carb, right?) \u00a0And it is jam-packed full of protein. \u00a0Have you and your family enjoyed quinoa before? \u00a0To find quinoa in your grocery store, check the natural food section, or the rice\/pasta aisle. \u00a0Usually when I prepare a pot of quinoa, I make extra to use for another meal. Our favorite is \u2018red\u2019 quinoa although it also comes in white (or golden), and black variations. Check out these nutritional facts<\/a>. \u00a0This light salad fits well into our \u2018healthy but oh-so-yummy\u2019 POV since it has a great vegetable protein base, and lots of fresh veggies and fruit! \u00a0Serve it alongside something yummy from the grill\u2014chicken, shrimp, or salmon, for example. \u00a0Oh, and if you DO grill…throw the peaches on the grill for 5 minutes or so, too! \u00a0Enjoy!<\/p>\n

Quinoa<\/span>, Peach<\/span> and Arugula<\/span> Salad<\/h3>\n

\"2014-08-17<\/a><\/p>\n

ingredients<\/strong><\/span>:
\n1 cup red quinoa
\n1+3\/4 cup water
\n1\/3 cup olive oil
\n1\/3 cup mango (or orange) juice
\n1 tablespoon honey, agave or maple syrup (optional)
\n2-3 splashes of white balsamic vinegar
\n1 teaspoon minced garlic (I use jarred)
\nsea salt & freshly ground black pepper
\n3 cups arugula
\n2 ripe peaches (or mango), chopped
\n1\/2 small red onion, finely diced
\n1 cup cucumber, small dice
\nhandful of sugar snap peas (defrosted from frozen OR fresh)
\n3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
\n3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
\n1\/3 cup nuts (pistachios, pignoli, chopped almonds)
\n4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
\nsea salt & freshly ground black pepper<\/p>\n

directions<\/strong><\/span>:<\/p>\n