As we are approaching the warmer months, I've been craving some refreshing salads. This feta lemon and quinoa salad seems perfect to enjoy outside whilst the sun is shining. There is just something super refreshing between feta, lemon juice that just adds so much flavour to this dish. This is the perfect midweek meal and carries well in a container to take to work for lunch and to provide you with the right energy yet still watching the waistline. This can also work as the perfect side dish if it's to bring to a BBQ or just grilling up some normal chicken on the side but in all honesty meat isn't even needed to accompany this dish, you won't feel something missing. Lentils make up for a great meat alternative but you don't just have to be vegetarian to reap of their benefits. You know me and my cooking standards lately - are very effortless. Lentils are so fast to prepare, are actually quite tasty and have so many beneficial health factors to them, for starters they are low in calories and have a high nutritional value filled with protein, fibre, minerals and vitamins, they are known to lower cholesterol, to be great for promoting heart health and are also considered a great food for weight loss. I highly recommend switching a meat dish with a lentil substitute at least once a week and you'll notice the difference but surely not in the taste!
I just love adding lentils to my salads, stir fries and most recently with my quinoa - i just feel like they compliment each other quite nicely and it helps keep you fuller longer. Eating healthy doesn't necessarily mean cutting out on good, tasty food - I hope you enjoy this small quinoa salad below and let me know how you like to incorporate your lentils into your diet!
INGREDIENTS:
- x1 cup of white quinoa
-x1 can of lentils
- x1/2 cup of feta cheese
- x1 lemon
- plum tomatoes
-x2 cloves of garlic
- x1tbsp of olive oil
- salt & pepper to taste
- pilau rice seasoning
- spinach leaves for garnishing
- x1 handful of mint and parsley
HOW TO:
Start by cooking your quinoa by adding it to cold water, and bringing it to a boil. I try to season it as it cooks by adding a little lemon juice, salt & pepper and pilau season but seasoning is totally to your preference, you could even add some soy sauce which gives it a nice touch.
After 10-15 minutes the water will be soaked up, once your quinoa is ready allow to cool on the side for a while.
Fry some garlic in some olive oil, before adding in your lentils just to help give an added flavour. Because I'm using canned lentils it doesn't have to cook for long but enough just to soften them and heat up slightly.
Add your quinoa and lentils all into a mixing bowl and continue by adding the feta cheese and cherry tomatoes - the quinoa should still slightly be warm so the feta will melt slightly which is DIVINE. I added another teaspoon of olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and topped it off with lemon juice just to refresh the whole dish.
I would suggest garnishing with some parsley and chopped up spinach leaves.
Add some music, make yourself a refreshing beverage and enjoy this outside on a bench in the garden like I did. This was a heavenly feeling. It's impressive how the sun can boost your moral in an instant, eating revitalising food such as this quinoa bowl is just an added bonus. If like me most days, you have to eat lunch on the go at work, just try eat this in some fresh air if possible and notice how it will give you an energy boost for the rest of your day either way: BON APPETIT.
