Quinoa Tabbouleh

The Lebanese cuisine includes large amounts of garlic and olive oil, often seasoned with lemon juice.Rarely a meal goes by in Lebanon that does not include these ingredients.Most often foods are either grilled, baked or sautéed in olive oil.Vegetables are often eaten raw or pickled as well as cooked.The cuisine doesn't boast an entire repertoire of sauces, if focuses on herbs, spices and the freshness of ingredients.The meals are full of robust, earthy flavors and , like most Mediterranean countries, much of what the Lebanese eat is dictated by season.
The manner in which their meals are served is an array of small dishes placed before the guests creating a rainbow of colors, flavors, textures and aromas.The meal can be as simple as pickled vegetables, hummus and bread and a variety of cooked and raw salads.

The following salad is delicious and easy to make.The Quinoa is tossed with lemon juice, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, green onions and parsley.

Quinoa Tabbouleh

Ingredients
2 cups of filtered water
1 cup Quinoa grain
1 pinch of sea salt
1/4 cup organic olive oil
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 organic tomatoes, diced
1 cucumber, diced
2 bunches green onions, diced
2 carrots, grated
1 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:
1.In a saucepan bring water to a boil.Add Quinoa and a pinch of salt.Reduce heat to low,cover and simmer for 15 minutes.Allow to cool to room temperature; fluff with fork.
2.Meanwhile,in a large bowl, combine olive oil, sea salt, lemon juice, tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, carrots and parsley.Stir in cooled Quinoa.

To make an authentic Tabbouleh salad, view the video below...



Both of these recipes are delicious and I'm sure that your family and friends will enjoy the fresh taste of all the fantastic ingredients marinated together.

Enjoy!!

Sylvie Thibert