Healthy Quinoa Recipe - The Real Leel

This is one of my go-to meals. It’s healthy, easy to prepare, and very delicious. This quinoa recipe hits all of the right notes with earthy greens, sweet and crunchy bell peppers, creamy avocado, and a bomb dressing. Even my partner, who is not the biggest quinoa fan, is a lover of this dish!

Total time (including prep): 20-30 minutes

Servings: 4 (this feeds 2 hungry people)

Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water
1 small bunch of fresh kale, ripped into bite-size pieces
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 avocado, cut into chunks
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Vinaigrette ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
Juice of 2 lemons
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Directions:

1. In a medium or large saucepan, add water and quinoa and bring to a boil. Once at a boil, reduce heat and bring to a simmer, covering pot with lid. Allow quinoa to cook, checking and stirring occasionally until water is absorbed and quinoa is cooked through (12-15 minutes).

2. Prepare vinaigrette: pour olive oil in a small bowl, add lemon juice and honey and whisk. Add Dijon mustard and whisk again until all ingredients have blended together. I like to taste the vinaigrette after I mix to see if I need add more of any of the ingredients to hit the desired balance of flavors.

3. Right before quinoa is finished cooking, steam kale until tender.

4. When quinoa has finished cooking, Stir in feta cheese and bell peppers. Remove quinoa from heat. Add steamed kale and avocado chunks and mix ingredients again.

5. Pour vinaigrette on top and mix until ingredients are coated. Serve and enjoy!