Southwestern Quinoa & Chickpea Salad

Despite its praise as a super-duper food, quinoa just tastes great.  Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wa or Kee-no-ah) is a grain-like seed that can be cooked like rice.  With the water, and the boiling and the oh golly!  After cooking, it has a fluffy texture, slightly nutty flavor, and has the consistency of rice.  Most folks say it looks like couscous.  I had just eaten it plain before, but then I got turned on to various tasty meals, even desserts, that can be prepared with quinoa.
 I found this recipe in Men’s Health.  Although there are other southwestern recipes out there that call for more ingredients, I dug this one for its simplicity and gentleness on my palate.  Yeah, I just referred to my palate.  What about it?  Plus, it calls for chickpeas.  Servings: 4 people.

You’ll need:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 3/4 cups water
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed & drained
• 1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 4 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Click here for the rest of the recipe and cooking instructions from Men’s Health.

Don’t be a recipe miser.  If you’ve tried quinoa or have given this recipe a whirl, let us know what you think.  Love chickpeas?  Then let’s talk hummus.