For those suffering with Celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, finding delicious lunch ideas can be tough! Nobody wants to chow down on the gluten free cardboard tasting bread, so what’s a poor person to do? Well, 2013 just happens to have been named the ‘Year of Quinoa’, and for good reason. Quinoa is a great gluten free alternative for those looking to be healthy, or those who require a gluten free diet. Keep Reading.
While most think of quinoa as a grain, and it does taste like it, it’s technically a seed. It has a great nutritional profile, as it has 8 g of protein, and more than 5 g of fiber per one cup cooked. On its own, it doesn’t have a whole lot of flavor, so it really takes on whatever dressing or food you put with it.
Here’s a great recipe that I love! I make a big batch of this on Sundays, and take some for lunch throughout the week.
Mandy’s Ultimate Quinoa Salad Recipe
Ingredients:
1 bell pepper (any colour)
1 pint of cherry tomatoes
1 cucumber
1 avocado
4 green onions
1 can of black beans (I use Eden Organics)
1 cup quinoa, uncooked
Dressing:
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
juice of 1.5 lemons
1/2 cup purified water
1/2 cup tahini
1 inch piece of fresh ginger, minced
2 tbsp toasted sesame oil (toasted brings out a better flavour)
1/8 cup tamari
Instructions:
- Cook quinoa according to package instructions.
- Meanwhile, chop all vegetables.
- Blend all dressing ingredients in food processor.
- Mix cooked quinoa and chopped vegetables.
- Pour dressing over top of quinoa (you may not need all the dressing).
And there you have it – a great, gluten free lunch alternative that is delicious and healthy!
Are you following a gluten free eating regime? What did you think of this recipe? We would love to hear your thoughts! What’s your favorite way to dress up quinoa? Help us share the love and pass this recipe on to friends and family using the Twitter and Facebook links below.
