Do not mistake Red Split Lentils for Red Lentils! I repeat, do not mistake Red Split Lentils for Red Lentils. My PSA for the day.
That’s what I get for not doing my homework.
Dom and I have a new field trip destination. It used to be Wegmans, exclusively, but we’ve added another…and where Wegmans is the stoic and legendary sage of a grocery store, Trader Joe’s is its cool hip and happening little sibling…they each bring something special to the table and we love them both!
One night last week we braved the cold and hit the plaza that houses Barnes & Noble and Trader Joe’s. Paradise. With new book and non-fat chai latte in hand, we scooted next door and sauntered about Trader Joe’s as if we had all night. I probably don’t need to tell you about the contents of our cart. Whole foods, clean ingredients, gluten-free and vegan (for the most part). I even got myself a bright bouquet of baby sunflowers. Heaven.
This field trip began with my quest for ingredients to build a salad. Not just any salad – one so perfect, so tasty and healthy, it would have the power to turn back the hands of time.
My goal: to build a medley of components so exemplary, a mélange – so healthy – we become younger by the forkful…a mixture that I, *president of the comfort food association, would choose to indulge in, week after week, and be very inclined to include in my weekly rotation of meals.
This was a tall order. Did we do it?
We nailed it! With the help of Trader Joe’s…Quinoa, Edamame & Black Rice Salad was born.
Quinoa, edamame, and black rice (together) form what I like to call, a triple threat. They pack a nutritional punch so strong – you just might find yourself screaming ‘Adrian’ when you’re done. Get it? Adrian…Rocky? Pack a punch? Thanks for playing along with me guys…I’m sure my kids appreciate the break!
I used tri-colored quinoa but you could use any flavor you prefer. The same holds true for the rice, you could use a wild rice or a brown rice, each possess a lovely nutty hearty flavor, but I could not resist this color, this time. So rich and deep…it cooks up to the color of the darkest eggplant you’ve ever seen. Stunning.
So what do these fine ingredients, along with baby spinach, red bell peppers, tomatoes, Persian cucumbers, lightly toasted pumpkin seeds, flat-leaf parsley, extra-virgin olive oil and lemon juice do for us? Let’s just say, if this salad were competing in the Superfood Olympics – it would earn a spot on the podium. We’ve got our anti-oxidants, fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals and iron covered, in a big way.
And why the Persian cucumbers, you might ask? They are seedless, sweet and crunchy. Cucumber perfection.
I thought for a minute about calling this – Fiber, Protein & Vitamin Salad, but I wasn’t sure it sounded tasty enough.
This salad comes together pretty quickly. Once your quinoa, edamame and rice are cooked, you’ll simply toss them with your chopped red peppers, diced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers and baby spinach which has been cut using a chiffonade technique (chiffonade means to stack the leaves one on top of another, roll them up to look like a cigar, then slice perpendicular to the roll to create little strips or ribbons), add a nice drizzle of lemon-y olive oil, then top with a sprinkle of chopped parsley and pumpkin seeds.
This salad is bright and nutty, earthy and textural, fresh and lemon-y.
It doesn’t get any better than this.
BUT WAIT! I’m not finished yet! Check out this article on 27 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Quinoa… I knew it was healthy…I never knew how healthy…until now!
Buon Appetito!
PrintQuinoa, Edamame & Black Rice Salad
- Category: Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 1 cup cooked edamame beans
- 1 cup cooked black rice
- 1 cup chopped red peppers
- 1 cup sliced Persian cucumbers
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 cup baby spinach, chiffonade cut
- 1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
- 1/2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
- 5 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- Kosher Salt and cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Once the quinoa, frozen edamame and black rice are prepared (cooked according to package directions), combine with red peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and spinach.
- Whisk the extra-virgin olive oil with the lemon juice and toss into salad.
- Top with parsley and pumpkin seeds.
- Add kosher salt and cracked pepper to taste.
* Just kidding about the comfort food association. Statement included solely for the purpose of hyperbole. I don’t believe there is a comfort food association. That would be kinda cool, though. wink
Ciao!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
You can tell just by looking at the images that this is one healthy, nourishing and FRESH salad! It looks delicious Annie!
Annie says
Thank you so much, Thalia! The combination of ingredients work very well together!
Laura says
Whoa! This salad is just chock-full of nutrients. All about those antioxidants and yes please, a filling salad too! I love how you topped it off with pumpkin seeds, those are the best!
Annie says
It is a very filling salad which makes it a perfect option for dinner, too! Sometimes I think the pumpkin seeds are my favorite part until I think about those sweet crunchy cukes…Thanks, Laura!
Michele @ Two Raspberries says
healthy and very filling! this recipe looks soooo tasty! I don’t think I have ever made black rice but I can not wait to try it! pinned
Annie says
I think you’ll really enjoy it, Michele! Thanks for the pin! 🙂
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
I love how bright this all is. I just bought a big bag of edamame, so i know what I am going to do with it next. Thanks for sharing!
Annie says
Ahhh! Enjoy, my friend!
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg says
I need this in my life! We have a Trader Joe’s about a half hour away from where I live. Occasionally I’ll make the trek because I love their options. This dish is extremely flavorful and healthy. What a lovely and light weeknight meal.
Annie says
This is a perfect weeknight meal! Thanks, Erin!
Maya @ Treats and Eats says
Wow- these pictures are gorgeous! And the salad sounds absolutely delicious! I’m also a huge Wegman’s and TJ’s fan 🙂
Annie says
Cannot beat these stores!!Thanks so much for your kind words, my friend!
Danielle says
This salad looks so fresh and vibrant! I love that it’s packed full of healthy ingredients too. Pinned!
Annie says
Thanks so much, Danielle!!
Manali @ CookWithManali says
very beautiful salad Annie! I have never tried endamame but I really want to. Maybe I can make your salad for a start 🙂
Annie says
I think you’ll really like edamame, Manali! And I say yes to starting with this salad! Enjoy! 🙂
Amanda says
This looks like such a hearty and delicious salad!
Annie says
It sure is! Thanks, Amanda!!
Rachelle says
Yo! Adrian! Girl, you sure did nail it. I wish healthy could always look so beautiful!
Annie says
Hahah! Yo! Rachelle! We can do it… Thanks, dear!
Gingi says
This looks so rich and delicious!! Seriously making my mouth water!! <3 – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
Annie says
Why thank you, Gingi! I appreciate that!
mira says
This salad looks so fresh and just perfect for lunch! Love the use of quinoa and black rice 🙂
Annie says
I had such a craving for these ingredients! I think my body is trying to tell me something! Thanks, Mira!!
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. says
That salad is so bright and colourful! I’ve never actually tried edamame so I’ll have to give this a try!
Annie says
Oooh- give it a try! I think you’ll like it! I think your kids just might like it, too! Thanks, Stacey!
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen says
Annie, this is my kind of salad. I could eat this everyday. Just love how healthy, filling and delicious it is. I too could spend hours in TJ just wondering around checking out all their wonderful and interesting products. Lovely photos, Annie.
Annie says
I knew you’d like this one! Gosh, we love Trader Joe’s! Thanks so much, my friend!
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says
I want to dive into this salad, Annie! And when I hit the line about Rocky, I couldn’t stop cracking up. (Once you explained it, it was really funny!) If I had a dime for every time kids at school called me, “Yo, Adrian!” Anyway, inquiring minds want to know about the red lentils. What happened?
Annie says
Hahah! I can see that! “Yo, Adrian!” I had an idea of what I wanted the lentil to look like (in the salad) and upon cooking the split lentil it broke right down to basically a puree, which is not necessarily a bad thing, it just wasn’t what I was going for. It had a softer texture. Thanks, my dear!
Kathleen | HapaNom says
Wow! What a wonderfully creative dish. And such beautiful colors, Annie! I love dishes that are healthy, delicious, and filling. As you said, “nailed it!”
Annie says
You are right on…it is as delicious as it is pretty! Thanks so much, Kathleen!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
What a beautiful salad, Annie! I love how pretty the black rice and tricolor quinoa are in here! They sound perfect with the edamame and all the other veggies! I could seriously eat this hearty and jam packed lemony power salad every day!
Annie says
I think I’ll join you! Thanks, Kelly!
Joanne says
Not only is this salad a nutritional masterpiece, but it’s BEAUTIFUL!! Not sure whether to stare at it or eat it…preferably both. 🙂
Annie says
I had the same issue…so I stared until I could stare no more and then dove in! Thanks, dear!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
This is definitely a triple threat salad, as it looks amazing! I love combining quinoa and edamame, such a great pair. And the addition of black rice sounds fantastic! Love the pretty colors, too!
Annie says
Aren’t they perfect, together? I love edamame with anything! Thanks, Gayle!!
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Awesome salad and gorgeous photos Annie! I can have this plateful salad everyday for each meal! YUM!
Annie says
Oh gosh…you and me, both! This is a delicious meal all on its own! Thank you, Anu!