Quinoa Salad with Herbs and Parmesan

Arriving in a new lakefront city at the golden hour makes the photographer in me very happy.🤳🏻

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If that town has a giant steel trout as the focal point of their city square - it makes it even better. 🤣 

We woke up in the beautiful New Zealand town of Taupo the next morning and hit the ground running. On our itinerary for the day was a stop at the geothermal heated pools.  Something that I had never experienced before and it only moments for me to become a true fan.  

I'm not sure if it was the warm, mineral rich waters, the gorgeous weather, the beautiful landscape - or a combination of all three - but the experience was incredibly relaxing.  A perfect way to spend an afternoon.  ​

Visiting the thermal pool spa gave me the little nudge that I needed to take better care of myself and that includes filling my body with the right foods.🫛🥦🥬🥕🥒🥑  My goal is always to eat more vegetables and whole grains but when life gets busy or stressful, even the best of intentions get pushed aside.  Why can't I crave broccoli the same way I crave chocolate?🤣

If only I could predict when life is about to get chaotic - I could have healthy, nutritious meals prepped for myself.😅  Unfortunately, that's not the case so it's quinoa to the rescue.  It's something that's always in my pantry because it cooks in under 10 minutes and it's tasty - even my young kids would ate it.  I've prepared it all sorts of different ways but this simple quinoa salad with fresh parsley and lemon juice has to be one of my favorites.  It's light and fresh and delicious. 

Quinoa Salad with Herbs and Parmesan
1 1/4 cups quinoa
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice + 1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon pepper
3/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
6 scallions, sliced thin
1/2 cup shaved parmesan

Bring 2 quarts water to a boil.  Add quinoa and 1 T. salt and return to boil.  Cook 15-18 minutes. Drain quinoa and spread on baking sheet to cool 20 minutes. ​

Whisk together oil, lemon zest, juice, garlic, pepper and salt. 

Stir in quinoa, parsley, scallions and parmesan.  Let sit 10 minutes.  

Serve chilled or at room temperature. 

Ciao!

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