^{Food by Bal Krishna Shrestha}

^{‘Power pack’ quinoa salad}

^{Quinoa is an edible seed from the Andes in South America and is one of the world’s most popular health foods. It is gluten-free, high in protein and fibre and contains many important nutrients: amino acids, magnesium, B vitamins, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin E and various beneficial antioxidants such as flavonoids.}

^{This quinoa salad is made with 11 other healthy and nutritious ingredients and qualifies as a ‘superfood’ salad.}

^Ingredients

^{Serves 8}

^{200g quinoa (white, red or mixed)}

^{400ml cold water}

^{4 tbsp olive oil}

^{2 tbsp lemon juice}

^{1/2 punnet cherry tomatoes}

^{1 avocado, peeled and pitted}

^{50g blueberries}

^{50g pumpkin seeds}

^{50g crushed walnuts}

^{50g black olives}

^Rocket

^{Baby spinach, handful}

^{Salt and ground black pepper}

   ^{to taste}

^{Rinse the quinoa in water and drain it well. Add to a saucepan with 400ml cold water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 10-15 minutes.}

^{Drain any excess liquid from the quinoa well. Add olive oil and mix well.}

^{Transfer the quinoa into a big salad bowl and leave aside to cool.}

^{Cut the cherry tomatoes in half, dice the avocado and add both to the quinoa.}

^{Combine the rest of the ingredients — blueberries, rocket, spinach, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, olives, lemon juice, salt and pepper — into the quinoa. Mix the salad well and check your seasoning.}