Roasted Vegetable & Quinoa Salad with Harissa marinade
Such beautiful flavours all coming together with a spicy Harissa pretty different for tomato based ones I'm used to....a perfect delivery of nourishment and flavour even my kids liked it, minus the Harissa. Also a great way to use up Zucchini, if you've ever grown it you'll know that you begin to get creative in an attempt to use up this fabulously producing plant, if you haven't grown it grow it, it's very forgiving and dead easy to grow....might write a few a gardening tips over the next few months it's so rewarding, saves money, you know where your food comes from and whats used on it and reduces your carbon footprint, it's a win win oh and not to mention it counts asexercise and is beneficial to your mental health...anyways back to the recipe it's a winner
Roasted Vegetables & Quinoa Salad with Harissa Marinade
2 Zucchini, cut into 2.5cm pieces
2 Red Capsicums, deseeded and cut into 2.5cm chunks
300g Cherry tomatoes, any big ones cut in half
1 Red Onion
5 Tbsp extra virgin Olive oil
Sea Salt
4 Cups cooked and cooled Quinoa (see notes)
1/3 to 1/2 cup Harissa marinade
1 cup chopped Parsley or Coriander
140g goats milk fetta, crumbled (I had Danish and it worked well)
Preheat oven 200 Degrees
Line 2 baking trays
Mix Zucchini, Capsicum and Toms in a bowl with 3 Tbsp of the olive oil
Divide Vegies between trays, roast for 25 mins turning trays after 10mins or so, remove and set aside
Warm remaining Olive oil in a frying pan, add red Onion and saute for 5 mins, lower heat a little and cook for another 15mins longer, stirring every few mins, remove when nice and caramelised. Remove and set aside
You can mix all the ingredients together very gently and then top with the fetta and greens or you can, as pictured place Quinoa onto a large serving platter and arrange vegies on top and then garnish with Fetta and Greens
Cooking Quinoa
This makes approx 4 cups
170g/ 1 Cup Quinoa
250ml/1 cup filtered water, plus more for soaking
pinch sea salt
Wash and soak Quinoa in at least 750ml/3 cups water for 8 to 24 hrs. Drain and rinse. Quinoa contains a number of anti nutrients which means soaking is pretty important to make sure it is easily digestible and not irritating for those with gut issues (like most of us)
Place in a saucepan and add water and salt
Bring to the boil over high heat, reduce heat to low and cover and cook for 15mins or until all the water is absorbed.
Remove from heat and set aside covered, for 5 to 10mins before fluffing with a fork and serving.
I have cooked my Quinoa in stock for extra flavour and nutrition.