Cucumber Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:

Cucumber Quinoa Salad Ingredients:

• 1 English cucumber, diced
• 2 cups chilled* cooked quinoa 
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/3 cup julienned or roughly-chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1 batch Lemony Italian vinaigrette (see below)

Lemony Italian Vinaigrette Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, homemade or store-bought
• pinch of salt and black pepper

Directions:

To Make The Cucumber Quinoa Salad:

1. Toss all ingredients together until combined.  Serve immediately.

To Make The Lemony Italian Vinaigrette:

1. Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl until combined.

How To Cook Quinoa

Quinoa can either be cooked on the stove or in a rice cooker.

• On The Stove: Stir together the quinoa and water/broth in a saucepan, then bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed.  Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes.  Fluff with a fork and serve.
• In A Rice Cooker: Stir together the quinoa and water/broth in a rice cooker.  Then cook according to the rice cooker instructions, as if cooking rice, until liquid is absorbed.  Fluff with a fork and serve.