Recipe:
This summer salad is super refreshing from some chopped mint and a limeade-inspired dressing. The sweetness of juicy cherries balances the tart lime. Almonds add a nutty crunch, plus they provide vitamin E, an anti-aging antioxidant. Cherries contain anthocyanins, pigments with antioxidant properties that protect collagen in skin.
Ingredients:
For the salad:
1 cup dry white quinoa, rinsed
2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and chopped
1⁄4 cup fresh mint, chopped
1⁄4 cup toasted slivered almonds
1⁄2 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon lime zest
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
Instructions:
Note: You can add 1⁄4 cup feta cheese to the salad if you like.
In a small pot, bring quinoa and 1 3⁄4 cups water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes, until all water is absorbed. Fluff quinoa with a fork and let cool.
Once quinoa is cool, mix in cherries, mint, and almonds. In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice and zest, olive oil, and honey. Pour this dressing over the quinoa.
Yields: 4 servings
Per serving: 317 calories, 8.62 g protein, 53.52 g carbohydrates, 5.92 g fiber, 15.81 g sugars, 9.32 g fat, 0.76 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 7.55 mg sodium, 67.84 mg calcium, 0.02 g omega-3 fats, 247 IU vitamin A, 14.19 mg vitamin C, 0.07 mg vitamin E, 2.89 mg iron, 0.1 mg zinc
Lisa Drayer, M.A., R.D.,
is the author of THE BEAUTY DIET and STRONG, SLIM, and 30! For more of Lisa’s Beauty Bites, visit www.lisadrayer.com.