Sunday, July 5, 2015

Asian Quinoa Slaw Salad






This festive Asian Quinoa Slaw will make a beautiful presentation at any get together. It's a colorful healthy recipe that includes shredded red cabbage, shredded carrots, crunchy pecans, raw sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and chopped green scallions and is mixed with a generous portion of flavorful tricolored quinoa and a delicious Asian dressing.

The healthy salad is perfect for any vegetarian, gluten free, or vegan guests, while the meat eaters will enjoy this salad as a complementary side dish. 


Best of all, it's easy to make. Simply shred the cabbage and carrots yourself or if you are in a hurry you find bags of shredded cabbage and carrots in the supermarket.  Then you can just assemble this awesome salad in a jiffy!  The Asian dressing adds a delicious subtle sweet and tangy taste that makes it special.

Quinoa slaw salad


Although quinoa is relatively new on the American scene, the Incas have been eating this nourishing seed for thousands of years. It is considered a superfood because of it's amazing health benefits.

1. Quinoa is a complete protein that contains all nine essential amino acids.

2. Quinoa is higher in fiber than other grains.  Fiber helps lower cholesterol and glucose levels.  In addition fiber is necessary for proper elimination.

3.  Quinoa supplies  iron, lysine, B2, manganese and  magnesium - all needed for healthy metabolism and energy.

4. Quinoa is a nice alternative to rice and can be used in many of the same ways. Quinoa comes in different colors. There is red quinoa , cream colored quinoa and a tri colored quinoa that I buy in Trader Joe's . I like the tri colored the best.

5. Quinoa cooks quickly ( Takes about 10-15 minutes per cup of uncooked quinoa)

6. Instant Pot : Quinoa can be made light and fluffy in 2 minutes cooking in the Instant Pot. Recipe : How to Make Quinoa in the Instant Pot (recipe link).

Quinoa Asian Slaw


How to make the Asian Quinoa Slaw Salad

Ingredients: 
6 cups of shredded red cabbage (or a 10 ounce bag)
2 cups of shredded carrots
2 cups of cooked quinoa  (cook one cup of quinoa)
2/3 cup of green onions (scallions)
1/2 cup of pecans or nuts of your choice (slivered almonds?)
1/2 cup of raw sunflower seeds
1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds

Dressing:

1/4 cup of olive oil 
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil (omit for Passover)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
juice of one lemon or lime
Optional: 2 tsp. Tamari Sauce or gluten-free soy sauce  (omit for Passover)

Directions: 
Assemble and mix the salad. 
Mix the salad dressing ingredients a bowl with a whisk and then and toss into the salad

Alternative Dressing: An Almost Oil-Free Peanut Dressing: 
  • ¼ cup organic nut butter (peanut butter or almond butter)
  • 1/4 cup of tamari or gluten-free soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider or rice vinegar
  • a few drops of sesame oil for flavor
  • 1- 2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger 
  • Juice of one lime, freshly squeezed Optional: Red pepper flakes to taste
Assemble and mix the salad. 
Mix the salad dressing ingredients in a bowl with a whisk and then and toss into the salad


Bowl of shredded carrots, red cabbage and pecans and sesame seeds
All ingredients except the cooked quinoa and dressing before mixing

Red Cabbage and Carrot quinoa salad with asian dressing
Quinoa salad when mixed and dressed!

Tricolor quinoa from Trader Joe's

My notes:  

My daughter in law, Wendy, cooks her quinoa in vegetable broth instead of water. It comes out great! 

Substitute: This Asian Quinoa Salad is a basic recipe that is open to substitution. Change the flavor entirely by using  Italian vinaigrette instead of the Asian dressing. Or for a practically oil free dressing,  make the peanut dressing.


Try One Of My Other Favorite Salads:
Jersey Corn and Tomato Salad (not for Passover)

I made this salad using raw uncooked corn that I cut right off the cob- very sweet and crunchy- no need to boil any water

Fresh Corn and Tomato Salad

                              Joining Deb at Souper Sunday  
                 


Pin It Please leave a comment so I know you stopped by. Scroll down to the end of the post and click on comments.

33 comments:

  1. Excuse my ignorance, but could you please tell us how to strain the quinoa once cooked? It is so tiny it falls through the holes in a colander. I've used a tiny tea strainer, but that took forever!

    Thanks for a great blog and all of your work.

    Judith

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Once it's cooked all the water evaporates and there is no need to strain it.
      If you want to wash and strain it before it cooks, use a very fine mesh strainer.

      Delete
  2. Thank you so much for a great recipe! I appreciate the dressing substitution idea, too! There is always Italian dressing on hand!

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    Replies
    1. The recipe is great with all kinds of dressing. We are Italian dressing lovers,

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  3. This looks delicious, Judee--will definitely be making it this week. Our family loves quinoa and slaw:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Quinoa and slaw is a perfect combination and it's easy enough to make too. Enjoy it.

      Delete
  4. This looks great, love a nice salad :)

    Thanks for sharing at Creative Mondays

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Claire,
      Thanks for hosting creative mondays. It's a great party.

      Delete
  5. My family is always looking for new ways to cook with Quinoa. I got my daughter in law really into it and I love that this recipe is so Diabetic friendly! I'd be thrilled if you'd come share it with us over at Country Fair Blog Party, a once a month link up. We would love to have you join us!
    Jan @ Tip Garden
    http://www.thetipgarden.com/2015/07/country-fair-blog-hop-july-15.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Jan,
    Thanks for letting me know about Country Fair Blog Party. I will stop by.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a lovely looking salad. Thanks for sharing your recipe at the #AnythingGoes Link Party.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, I am new to #Anything goes Link Party and I'm enjoying all the interesting recipe links

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  8. Hi there,
    I'm always looking for gluten-free recipes and this one with quinoa looks perfect. Thanks for the tip about cooking in broth rather than water. I think that probably makes the quinoa taste richer. Pinning for later!

    thanks,
    Carol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol,
      That is what I found by trying it both ways. The broth adds a very rich flavor.

      Delete
  9. Your Asian Quinoa Salad looks and sounds mouthwatering, I can't wait to try it. Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really enjoy this salad. I hope that you do get to try it sometime.

      Delete
  10. Yum - sounds like this would be a great addition to our weekly sushi night!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Judee,
    I just love the color and flavor of this awesome Salad. Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. The color and texture of this salad is appealing and delicious

      Delete
  12. I love a good salad.Thanks for linking up to Pin Worthy Wednesday, I have pinned your post to the Pin Worthy Wednesday Pinterest Board.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. I love a good salad and I think you will love this one for sure.

      Delete
  13. I am a big fan of slaw, but have never made one with quinoa. Thanks for this delicious sounding recipe. I'll be trying it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It goes great with slaw and quinoa. I hope that you like it.

      Delete
  14. Looks delicious and healthy salad, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My pleasure. I love sharing on Hearth and Soul blog hop. It's one of my favorites

      Delete
  15. Hi Judee,
    We could eat this yummy Asian Quinoa Slaw Salad everyday in my house! Thank you for sharing this healthy and delicious recipe with us at the Healthy Happy Green and Natural Party Blog Hop. I'm pinning and sharing. I can't wait to see what you share with us next!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for pinning and sharing. I really appreciate it. I too could eat healthy salads everyday. This one is really good

      Delete
  16. Yummy and healthy. That's a win, win combination! Looks delish as well. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does have a lot of healthy ingredients and those ingredients do make it yummy.

      Delete
  17. What a beautiful salad that looks delish! Thanks for linking up to the Country Fair Blog Party this month. I do hope you will join us again in August.

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    Replies
    1. I agree it is a beautiful salad and it tastes fabulous. I love it because it is basically a whole meal.

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  18. Love the colors and how satisfying it looks. Thanks for sharing with Souper Sundays this week! ;-)

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are appreciated. I love knowing who is stopping by to read my posts! Have a great day.

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