ASPARAGUS, AVOCADO & QUINOA TABBOULEH

Asparagus, avocado & quinoa tabbouleh image

Add texture and flavour to this nutritious side or packed lunch with soya beans, crunchy cucumber and chopped fresh herbs

Provided by Sarah Cook

Categories Buffet, Lunch, Side dish, Supper, Vegetable

Time 35m

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

300g quinoa
250g soya beans
12 fat asparagus spears, woody ends snapped off and tips and stalks separated
300g Greek yogurt
1 tsp sweet paprika , plus a pinch to serve
2 garlic cloves , crushed
zest and juice 2 lemons
½ large cucumber , halved lengthways, seeds scooped out with a teaspoon, sliced
4 spring onions (we used the ones with the fat bottoms), thinly sliced
large pack mint , leaves picked
2 small packs dill , roughly chopped
large pack parsley , roughly chopped
2 avocados , stoned, peeled and cut into chunks
juice 3 limes
1 tbsp agave syrup
2 tbsp rapeseed oil

Steps:

Cook the quinoa following pack instructions, then leave to cool. Bring a pan of water to the boil, add the soya beans and cook for 2 mins, then add the asparagus tips and cook for 1 min more. Drain everything and leave to cool.
Meanwhile, mix the yogurt with the paprika, garlic and most of the lemon zest. Season and chill.
Using a vegetable peeler, slice the asparagus stalks into thin ribbons (you won't be able to do the whole stalk as it will get too thin, but these pieces are perfect for soup.) Keep in iced water until ready so they curl.
On a large platter, combine the quinoa, cooked soya beans and asparagus tips, cucumber, spring onions, herbs and avocado. Drain the asparagus ribbons and add them too. Whisk together the lime and lemon juices, agave syrup, rapeseed oil and some seasoning, then pour over the salad and gently toss to mix. Serve with the yogurt alongside, topped with the remaining lemon zest.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 402 calories, Fat 20 grams fat, SaturatedFat 5 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 36 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 10 grams sugar, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 17 grams protein, Sodium 0.2 milligram of sodium