Caribbean Quinoa Salad

Eating Healthy definitely starts with eating Salads and why not try new flavors in Salads...not just adding every other leafy green and tossing the Silly store - bought Salad Dressing. Lets start in Caribbean Style.

We need:

* 1/2 cup - Raw Quinoa

* 1 cup - Water

* 4 cups - Lightly Steamed Kale ( chopped)

* 1 cup - Cooked Black Beans ( cook with a pinch of salt)

* 3/4 cup - Diced Avocado ( Peel and cut just before garnishing)

* 1/4 cup - Sliced Spring Onions

* 3/4 cup - Corn ( Sweet or Cooked)

* 1/2 cup - Diced Pineapple

* 3/4 cup - Salsa ( mixture of Diced Tomatoes, Onions, Cilanthro, Green Chillies)

For Taste and Spice:

* 1 tsp - Cumin Powder ( Jeera Powder)

* 1 tsp - Chilli Powder

* 1/4 tsp - Sea Salt

Directions to make:

Rinse quinoa thoroughly to avoid the bitter taste. Heat water in a wide saucepan and add the washed quinoa. Bring it to boil over medium heat and when you see the grains splitting, reduce the heat and cover the pan with a lid, cook until water is absorbed. Now prepare for the salad.

Take a big mixing bowl, pour in the cooked quinoa, add the steamed Kale, black beans, cumin powder, chilli powder, salt, salsa, pineapple and corn. Toss all the ingredients. Top it with Avocado and Spring onions just before serving to avoid Avocado from turning brown. ..... This Caribbean Salad is rich in Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Fiber, Vitamin C, A and B, Protein and other healthy nutrients. Salads this extraordinary are not just healthy, they are a splurge too !!

- Prathyusha Talluri