Sexy Summer Basil Quinoa Salad

I adore this quinoa salad because it's so fresh tasting. Usually, I don't even bother with the roasted pinenuts – while I love them, it takes time to toast them. And this salad is so tasty it doesn’t need the extra help! Apparently it’s got some additional benefits too…

This recipe was posted by Rachel Venokur-Clark, who writes, “In my article Sexy Vegetarian Food, I explained how simple it is to eat vegetarian or vegan and still get all the vitamins and minerals you need for a healthy sex life.

Rachel also called out the salad’s sexy ingredients:
Quinoa -“Jing” and Kidney Support
Olive Oil- Omegas
Crushed Red Pepper- Blood Flow
Pine Nuts-Zinc
Onions and Garlic- Blood Purifying

Sexy Vegetarian Recipe: Summer Basil Quinoa Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Yields: 4-6 servings as a main course

Salad
1 cup quinoa-rinsed
1/2 of a red onion-sliced
2 whole tomatoes-chopped
1 cucumber-peeled and chopped
1/2 cup fresh basil-chopped
1/4 cup pine nuts-quickly toasted in a dry pan until fragrant and set aside for garnish

Dressing
4 garlic cloves-minced
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add quinoa, cover and simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes or until water is fully absorbed. Set aside and let cool.

Whisk together all dressing ingredients except olive oil. When combined, slowly whisk in olive oil, a little at a time to allow oil and vinegar to mix.

Toss all salad ingredients with dressing and garnish with pine nuts.

From care2.com