Quinoa Salad

I was looking for something #leanandgreen and landed up with quinoa/black bean salad, olives & roasted asparagus!

quinoa salad, i heart you hard

 INGREDIENTS (for quinoa/black bean salad):
- 1 cup of quinoa (I use Ancient Harvest brand)
- 2 cups of water
- 1 large carrot, minced
- 1 large handful parsley or cilantro, minced
- 1 large celery stick, minced
- 2-3 cloves of fresh garlic, minced with garlic press (3 makes it quite garlicky but I like it!)
- 1/3 red pepper, diced small
- 1.5 cups black beans or red kidney beans
- 1-2 green onions, chopped (2 makes it oniony but I like it, again!)
- 3 tbsp light olive oil
- salt & pepper to taste

METHOD:
In a small pot bring the water to boil and add quinoa, cover and bring to boil again then reduce to simmer (on low) for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, place in a large bowl, fluff with fork and place in freezer to cool down quickly for 5 minutes. Remove, fluff again and place back in freezer for another 5 minutes until cooled down. Orrrr.... Cook well ahead of time and cool in fridge!

Now for the dazzle. In a small food processor, mince these bad boys ONE at a TIME: carrot, celery, parsley or cilantro. Dice the red pepper & green onion. Mince the garlic with a garlic press.

Add it all together then add the olive oil, salt & pepper!

El fin.