TOASTED QUINOA AND CARROT SALAD

Im told you pronounce this word Quinoa like this:  Keenwa - Interesting hey?
I don't know why but now I go around correcting others= kinda annoying right? Im trying to stop...
(trying)

This is a mixture or soft and crunchy salad with a slightly sweet and tart flavour. it can have a punch of you add lots of black pepper. Of course you can add other ingredients to your liking if you wish.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
2 onions
olive oil 

7 small - medium carrots

3 baby marrows
half a cup of currants
sesame seeds
poppy seeds
brown linseeds
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey

2 oranges (you will use the juice and some of the rind)
black pepper
a small handful of frilly lettuce (or lettuce of your choice)


METHOD
Take your quinoa and place in a pot on medium heating stirring until lightly toasted (watch it doesn't burn) then add the water and bring to the boil. Once boiling turn down to a simmer and place the lid on. cook until all the water has evaporated then take off the heat.

While the quinoa is cooking:
Peel the onions, then cut in half and then into thin slices.
In a frying pan heat up some olive oil and slowly fry your onion until translucent on a low heat.
Peel your carrots and discard the skins then using the same peeler peel the all the carrots into long thin strips and place in the frying pan with the cooked onions.
Add some salt and pepper to taste
Wash your baby marrows and then very thinly cut into match stick style long pieces (or use a julienne slicer)
Add the marrow to the pan stir a few times and and as you see the baby marrow just starting to cook Turn off the heat and remove the pan from the stove.
Into you pan add all the seeds and  most of the currants and stir to combine (leave a spoonful to sprinkle over as a garnish later)

Grate the zest of the orange over the pan and then leave a pinch of the zest for garnish for later.
Allow everything in the pan to cool


Dressing: Make the dressing by placing the vinegar and honey in a cup or jug and cutting your oranges in half and squeezing the juice into the mixture. Stir and taste. Now grind as much black pepper as you wish into the dressing and stir lots! re-taste. (add more honey if needed)
Place in the fridge if the other part of the recipe is still hot from cooking

Wash your lettuce and roughly rip apart with your hands.

Take the Quinoa and stir through the cooled down cooked carrot mixture.
Place in a salad bowl and roughly stir through the lettuce - leaving a little of the leaves on top.
Pour over the dressing and mix
Garnish with the left over currants and a pinch of orange zest
Serve

 

Enjoy