Chickpea Quinoa Avocado Salad

Quinoa has grown in popularity as a health food in the United States and other Westernized countries, despite the fact that it has grown in South America since antiquity. In fact, the Incas revered this ancient grain as a sacred food hundred of years ago. Quinoa’s popularity has exploded in recent decades, thanks to a surge in demand for easy-to-grow, healthful, gluten-free grain alternatives. Quinoa is not only nutrient-dense, but it may also provide health benefits.

Why Quinoa Salad Is Healthy?

1. Quinoa is also high in Folate, Iron, Thiamine, Copper, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Zinc, among other nutrients.
2. Whole grains, such as quinoa, should make up at least half of your diet, according to the USDA. The majority of the fiber, iron, and vitamins found in whole grains have been removed from refined grains.
3. Whole grains can help you avoid diabetes, heart disease, and cancer by increasing your fiber intake. Quinoa is a high-fiber grain. Fiber can help you avoid or relieve constipation, as well as reduce your risk of developing intestinal cancer.
4. It also makes you feel fuller for longer, which may aid weight loss. It is critical for heart health to maintain a healthy weight.
5. Quinoa’s fiber can lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, reducing your risk of diabetes and heart disease.
6. Quinoa is high in antioxidants, which can protect your heart and other vital organs from harm. A high-antioxidant diet has been related to a lower risk of heart disease.

Chickpea Quinoa Salad

This healthful quinoa salad with chickpeas, black beans, mango, and avocado in a limey dressing is an easy side dish or simple vegetarian meal thanks to its bright flavor and punchy bites. Quinoa is widely available, and you can use it in many different dishes, including sweet and savory options. Just make sure your quinoa has been rinsed before cooking to remove compounds called saponins — these can taste bitter.

How to Cook Chickpea Quinoa Salad

Italian Salad Dressing

Don’t be put off by a large amount of dressing you are about to make, you can store the remainder for future use. Quinoa is absorbent, and the flavor of each grain comes from the dressing.

1. This salad dressing calls for acid freshly squeezed lime juice
2. Use a neutral oil because it’s flavorless
3. Choose your sweetener because it dissolved easily. Be sure to taste for sweetness and add more of one or the other as needed.
4. For a balanced flavor flair, use chili powder to add an earthy note to the dressing. You could also try cumin or allspice if you prefer.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cup olive oil
• ¾ cup lemon juice
• 1 ½ tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tbsp. onion powder
• ½ tsp. lecithin
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
• ½ tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tbsp. Italian seasoning
• 2 tbsp. parsley flakes

Directions:

Blend together all ingredients. Ready to serve on salads. Store dressing in the refrigerator.

Tips for Making This Healthy Quinoa Salad

This salad only requires a smidgeon of cooking, a modicum of chopping, and a tiny bit of stirring.

1. Cut the vegetables and fruits into similar bite-size pieces so that each forkful has a variety of flavors.
2. Before adding your raw vegetables, make sure the quinoa is cool. Toast the quinoa before boiling it if you prefer a nuttier flavor. To toast the quinoa, place it on a nonstick skillet and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Then cook the quinoa accordingly.
3. Allow 1-2 days for your avocados to ripen before using them in this salad.
4. Before adding the beans to the salad, rinse and drain them.
5. To keep the avocado from turning mushy, gently toss the salad after dressing it.

7 Ways To Make Salad Taste Better

If you’re dieting, you’re probably eating a lot of salads — lots of bland, boring salads — so you’re probably wondering if there are ways to make salad taste better. Oh gosh, yes! There are lots of ways to make salad taste better, and most of them are really easy! Here are my picks for what to add to take your salad from dull to delightful! Let’s rock that salad!

Table of contents:

 

1. Skip the Iceberg: Starting with greens that taste better than iceberg lettuce is one of the best methods to improve the salad’s flavor. Try spinach, romaine, or Bibb lettuce, or pick up a package of mixed greens… They’re more nutrient-dense and delicious as well!

 

1. Add Some Fruit: I appreciate the added flavor — and antioxidants — that a little fresh fruit adds to my salad. Anything goes sliced strawberries, diced Granny Smith apples, fresh raspberries, luscious Mandarin oranges, and so on. Avoid candied fruits, and if you must use dried fruits, such as raisins, make sure they aren’t overly sweetened.

1. Add Veggies: Adding vegetables to a salad is another great way to enhance its flavor. Begin with simple veggies such as carrot coins and cucumber slices, then progress to more exotic vegetables such as purple cabbage, artichoke hearts, and other vegetables.

1. Bring Nuts: Walnuts and almonds are high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and they may also add a lot of flavor and texture to a salad that is otherwise boring. Nuts with sugary or salty coatings should be avoided once more. Yum!

1. Add Lean Protein: Beans, such as dark red kidney beans, garbanzo beans, or black beans, are another option to provide lean protein and flavor.

 

1. Crumble Some (Low-Fat) Vegan Cheese: If you’re a cheese aficionado, consider tossing some low-fat vegan cheese crumbles into your salad for added taste. Cheddar, pepper jack, and mozzarella cheese are among my favorites.

1. Last but not least, a nice low-cal, low-fat dressing is a great way to add flavor and flair to a salad without adding a lot of calories. Make your own or purchase a quality one.

Bottom line

Quinoa is becoming more popular in Western countries, but it has been consumed in South America for thousands of years.

It’s technically a seed and, along with amaranth and buckwheat, belongs to a tiny group of grains known as pseudocereals.

Because it’s high in fiber, minerals, antioxidants, and protein, it’s a wise carbohydrate choice. It’s also gluten-free, tasty, adaptable, and super simple to make.

Quinoa is an excellent carbohydrate source to add to your diet.