fit food: quinoa salad with asparagus & cha cha cha chia seeds

 

I had some asparagus I needed to use up, so into a quinoa salad it went...

 

Quinoa Salad with Asparagus and Chia Seeds

 

½ bunch asparagus (about 1 C), cut into ½ inch pieces

2 C water (add 2 tsp. of Better Than Bouillon, Chicken when cooking quinoa) or chicken broth

1 C quinoa, rinsed in cold water

1 clove of garlic, crushed

¼ C chia seeds

 

Dressing

 

1 ½ T Champagne vinegar

1 ½ T fresh lemon juice

2-3 T extra virgin olive oil

1 clove of garlic, crushed

¼ tsp. red pepper flakes

S & P

 

In a medium bowl mix all dressing ingredients together.  Bring water/broth to a boil in a 2 quart saucepan and blanch asparagus for 2 minutes.  Remove asparagus from saucepan with strainer and rinse with cold water.  Place asparagus in medium bowl and toss with dressing.

 

Bring "asparagus" water/broth back to a boil.  Add BTB at this time if broth wasn't used, add rinsed quinoa and crushed garlic, reduce to a simmer and place lid on saucepan.  Cook 12 to 18 minutes, until liquid is gone. 

 

Add quinoa to the bowl with asparagus and dressing as well as the chia seeds.  Toss together.  Eat.  Enjoy!