Powerful Quinoa Salad with Orange-Cumin Dressing

This cancer-fighting salad brings with it one powerful, nutritional punch! (an updated note: this recipe took the $1,000 Grand Prize in a recipe contest I entered!) I have analyzed each ingredient and the nutritional benefits they bring to your body. This is one heart healthy, cancer-fighting, anti-inflammatory salad that tastes so delicious, not only will your body thank you but your taste buds will as well. I believe God placed on this earth all the healthy nutritional food we would ever need to survive. We just happen to mess it up along the way by adding preservatives, changing the DNA of plants, and spraying chemicals to prevent the plant from disease. We just never quite realized what diseases it would cause to our own bodies. Now with cancer on the rise, we need more than ever, nutritionally sound recipes. What I love about this salad is the power behind each ingredient.

Quinoa is known as the amazing “superfood”. It is one of the only known foods in the world that contain all the essential amino acids. Twice as rich in fiber than other grains, it is also high in iron, lysine, magnesium, riboflavin (B2), and manganese. It helps your body grow and repair tissue, and works as an antioxidant, which helps rid the body of dangerous cancer cells. Quinoa is gluten-free and can be substituted for rice or recipes calling for Tabouli.

The dressing is made of orange juice, cumin, turmeric, paprika, olive oil, rice vinegar, and wild honey.

Here is the nutritional breakdown of the dressing ingredients:

Orange Juice– boosts the immune system and helps fight cancer.

Olive Oil– boosts the immune system, protects against viruses, helps fight cancer, and helps lower blood cholesterol.

Rice Vinegar– high in amino acids, which helps fight free radicals, also helps absorb nutrients.

Honey– the flavonoids & antioxidants present help fight against cancer and heart disease.

Cumin– helps stabilize insulin levels and aids in digestion.

Turmeric– anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, slows cancer cell growth, enhances liver function, reduces cholesterol.

Paprika– contains vitamin C and capsaicin, which helps with arthritis & joint pain.

The next powerhouse ingredient to this delicious salad is chopped avocado. The avocado has often been called the world’s most perfect food.

There are studies that show it helps aid in the prevention and control of Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, among others.

The scallions (also known as green onions) contain quercetin and allicin, both which work to maintain a happy, healthy heart.

Pistachio nuts are great for heart health, diabetes health, and they are rich in vitamin B6, which helps carry

oxygen through your blood and boost your immune system. They also contain lutein, which helps in eye health

and vitamin E for good skin.

Apricots are not only rich in fiber, but also contain potassium and antioxidant carotenoids which help in fighting cancer.

Powerful Quinoa Salad with Orange-Cumin Dressing

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Serves	6
Prep time	5 minutes
Cook time	20 minutes
Total time	25 minutes
Dietary	Dairy-free, Gluten-free
Meal type	Salad, Side Dish
Misc	Pre-preparable

This grand-prize winning Quinoa Salad recipe is a powerful cancer-fighting salad. Apricots and avocados mix with an orange-cumin dressing for a burst of flavor in every bite.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dry quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup apricots (fresh chopped or dried and rehydrated)
• 1 Medium avocado (chopped)
• 2 scallions (head and green stems chopped)
• 1/2 cup psitachio nuts
• 1 juice from orange
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin)
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon tumeric
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon wild honey
• salt & pepper (to taste)

Directions

Step 1

Bring salted water to a boil and add quinoa to the water. Return to boil, then immediately reduce heat to low and put a lid on the pot. Simmer until water is fully absorbed (approximately 15-20 minutes).

Step 2

While quinoa is cooking make salad dressing.

Step 3

In a small bowl place juice of orange, rice vinegar, olive oil, cumin, turmeric. paprika, honey, salt & pepper. Stir.

Step 4

Once quinoa is fully cooked, pour in dressing, mix and set aside to cool.

Step 5

Chop apricots, scallions, and avocado.

Step 6

Add chopped apricots, scallions, avocado and pistachios to cooled quinoa. Gently fold in and serve cold.

I have shared this recipe on the following blogs: ThisGalCooks, RealFoodForager, NourishingJoy, SimplySugarandGlutenFree, AnyonitaNibbles, WellFedHomestead, DeliciousObsessions, GlutenfreeHomemaker, AnnKroeker, VegetarianMamma, Chef-in-Training, LadyBehindtheCurtain, NourishingSimplicity, TheGunnySack, Modvintagelife, SerendipityAndSpice, ThisGalCooks, TheChickenChick, AlderberryHill, HuckleBerryLove, SayNotSweetAnne, KeepingItSimpleCrafts, FlourMeWithLove, SkipToMyLou