California Quinoa Strawberry Salad - The Salad Bar Club Debut

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Berries... sweet, juicy berries.  Truly a summer treat, are they not?  I will admit to hounding my favorite farmer's market vendor as to when my beloved raspberries will arrive, but so far I've had to "settle" for the sweet, perfectly red, ripe organic strawberries.  Not much of a sacrifice, if I do say so myself.

With these beautiful berries, I usually serve them unadorned, cut into a bowl, or even simply eaten out of hand.  However this year I've stretched, and put them into muffins, even a pie, and now this fabulous, savory quinoa salad which we prepared for Wendy, The Weekend Gourmet's, new Monthly Salad Bar Club (this month's challenge is to include berries).

With the perfectly ripe berries, this salad came together better than I had expected, including a shot of lime juice and zest that brought the flavors singing to a new level.  Sweet, savory and protein packed with quinoa, this salad filled my lunch plate and had me returning for more.

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Quinoa has been my go-to ingredient of late due to its high protein punch and nutrient value.  A native to the Andean regions of Peru, quinoa is truly an "ancient grain" (though it is in reality a seed) with a near 9,000 year history.  Once called "The Gold of the Incas", quinoa is not just high in protein, but a complete protein, meaning it contains all 9 essential amino acids.  In addition to protein, the tiny seed is a very good source of manganese as well as a good source of magnesium, folate, and phosphorus, potentially making quinoa valuable for persons with migraine headaches, diabetes and atherosclerosis.

Adding antioxidant-rich strawberries to the mix has this salad's nutritional benefits reaching for the stars while the flavor alone is something you can be proud to serve.  Thanks to Wendy for stretching my salad recipe and for starting the Salad Bar Club.  Want to join too?  Head over to the Salad Bar Club Facebook Page and become part of the team!  Next month we bring you Pot Luck Salads, stay tuned.

California Quinoa Strawberry Salad
Sweet and savory in addition packing a nutritional punch, this salad works perfectly for a light lunch or a dinner side.  The lime brought an unexpected flavor peek that I simply can't get enough of!  One of those versatile recipes, increase the ingredients you love to suit your tastes.

Generous 1 cup halved or quartered organic strawberries
1 avocado, peeled, seeded and chopped
6 Tbs chopped red onion
1/3 cup black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 cup prepared quinoa
zest of one lime
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
2-4 Tbs olive oil
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
salt and pepper to taste

Add all ingredients to a medium sized bowl and mix gently.  Taste and adjust seasonings and ingredients as desired, chill and serve.

Liv Life Note:  I've made this salad 3 times, each time with different proportions.  Add extra quinoa if desired, but note that you may need a bit more lime juice and olive oil.  While I enjoyed the black beans, they were not a favorite with my husband, feel free to leave them out if you like.