Quinoa Salad Recipe: Quinoa Lentil Salad

Lentils with quinoa in a sprightly dressing makes everybody happy

Quinoa Lentil Salad contributed by Ruth and Tim at Eat Well Eat Cheap:

This quinoa salad mixes lentils with quinoa, bathes them in a sprightly dressing, and makes everybody happy.

Quinoa Lentil Salad can serve as a main dish for the vegetarians and a side dish for everybody else. And it's cheap as can be to make.

Green, or French, lentils work particularly well in this quinoa recipe, but we've also used regular brown lentils with good results. Brown rice is an excellent alternative to quinoa.

The dressing is adapted from Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. If you have smoked paprika, try substituting it for half or (if you really love smoked paprika) all of the paprika - Ruth and Tim

4 Large or 8 Side Servings:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 cup lentils
• 1/2 cup mint or basil, chopped
• 1/2 cup parsley, chopped
• 4 fat scallions, minced
• Dressing:
• Zest of two lemons
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp garlic, minced
• salt and fresh-ground pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Simmer quinoa in two cups of water until the water is absorbed, about 20 minutes
2. Place the lentils in a medium-size pan, cover with at least an inch of water, and boil until tender, 30 to 40 minutes
3. While the quinoa and lentils are cooking, prepare the dressing, mixing all ingredients
4. Pour the dressing over the quinoa and lentils while they are hot
5. Once the salad has cooled, mix in the chopped herbs and scallions