PESTO QUINOA SALAD

Pesto Quinoa Salad image

My daughter-in-law got me hooked on quinoa, and I'm so glad she did! I've been substituting quinoa in some of my favorite pasta recipes, and this dish is the happy result of one of those experiments. I love using my garden tomatoes and peppers in this salad; however, sun-dried tomatoes and roasted red peppers are equally delicious. -Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

2/3 cup water
1/3 cup quinoa, rinsed
2 tablespoons prepared pesto
1 tablespoon finely chopped sweet onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
2/3 cup fresh mozzarella cheese pearls (about 4 ounces)
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil, optional

Steps:

In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil; stir in quinoa. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until liquid is absorbed, 10-12 minutes. Cool slightly., Mix pesto, onion, oil, vinegar and salt; stir in pepper, tomatoes, cheese and quinoa. Refrigerate, covered, to allow flavors to blend, 1-2 hours. If desired, stir in basil.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 183 calories, Fat 11g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 15mg cholesterol, Sodium 268mg sodium, Carbohydrate 14g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 6g protein. Diabetic Exchanges