Toasted Quinoa Salad with Shrimp & Snow Peas

By mikinsue

Nutrition

Per serving: 326 calories; 15 g fat (1 g sat, 8 g mono); 19 mg cholesterol; 32 g carbohydrates; 16 g protein; 4 g fiber; 713 mg sodium; 511 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (35% daily value), Magnesium (31% dv), Folate (25% dv), Iron (15% dv).

2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 lean meat, 2 fat

Ingredients

• 12 * 12 ounces Shrimp, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 4 * 4 teaspoons reduced-sodium tamari, or soy sauce, divided
• 4 * 4 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons canola oil, divided
• 1 1/2 * 1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed well (see Tip)
• 2 * 2 teaspoons grated or minced garlic
• 3 * 3 cups water
• 1 * 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 * 1 cup trimmed and diagonally sliced snow peas, (1/2 inch thick)
• 1/3 * 1/3 cup rice vinegar
• 1 * 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 * 1 cup thinly sliced scallions
• 1/3 * 1/3 cup finely diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 * 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Preparation

Step 1

1. Toss shrimp with 2 teaspoons tamari (or soy sauce) in a medium bowl. Set aside.
2. Place a large, high-sided skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon canola oil and quinoa. Cook, stirring constantly, until the quinoa begins to color, 6 to 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add water and salt and bring to a boil. Stir once, cover and cook over medium heat until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. (Do not stir.) Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Stir in snow peas, cover and let stand for 5 minutes more.
3. Meanwhile, whisk 2 tablespoons canola oil plus 1 tablespoon of water, the remaining 2 teaspoons tamari (or soy sauce), vinegar and sesame oil in a large bowl. Add the quinoa and snow peas, scallions and bell pepper; toss to combine.
4. Remove the shrimp from the marinade and pat dry. Heat a large skillet over medium-high until hot enough to evaporate a drop of water upon contact. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons canola oil and cook the scallops, turning once, until golden and just firm, about 2 minutes total. Gently stir the scallops into the quinoa salad. Serve garnished with cilantro, if desired.

Tips & Notes


* Tip: Quinoa is a delicately flavored, protein-rich grain. Rinsing removes any residue of saponin, quinoa's natural, bitter protective covering. Find it in natural-foods stores and the natural-foods sections of many supermarkets