Quinoa with Black Beans

Day 15

Meet quinoa, your new pantry staple. If you have never heard of it, let me uncover this gem for you. Quinoa, pronounced "keen-wa", has re-emerged in the market as a powerfully nutrient-rich whole grain. It's high in protein, fiber and iron as well as zinc, vitamin E, and selenium to help fight heart disease and diabetes. If you can make rice, you can make quinoa. Plus, there are endless possibilities for recipes. Today, I'm making a recipe that was made for me by a fellow health foodie. It was so delicious I had to steal the recipe. Thanks Meghann!

Recipe: Serves 4

2 cups quinoa

3 1/2 cups water

1 cup cilantro, chopped

5 green onions, sliced

1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced

1 small red bell pepper, diced small

2 cups cooked black beans

Dressing:

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon sea salt

Directions

1. Place quinoa and water in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for about 20 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed.

2. Remove cooked quinoa from pot, place in a large bowl, let cool.

3. Combine olive oil, lime juice, cumin, and sea salt in a small bowl. Whisk together and pour over cooled quinoa. Toss well with a fork.

4. Add cilantro, green onions, jalapeno pepper, red bell pepper, and black beans and toss again.

Nutrition Facts

per serving: 138.8 calories, 13.6 grams fat, 4.1 grams carbohydrates, .9 grams protein

Recipe adapted from Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook