avocado

Quinoa Avocado and Corn Salad Recipe

Quinoa Avocado and Corn Salad
I realized recently that I had a box of quinoa in the pantry that had been sitting unopened for at least 9 months.  I read online months ago that quinoa was a healthy food, and bought some, but then never did anything with it!  So I decided I needed to test it out.

My oldest daughter has been become a vegetarian, and quinoa is an excellent food for vegetarians.  It looks like a grain, but it is really a seed, and is unusually high in protein for a plant based food.  So I made a southwest inspired salad using the quinoa, and it tasted very good.  The quinoa has a very mild, nutty flavor, so the predominate taste was the vegetables and spices I added.

Even my husband had seconds, and he is not a fan of similar dishes made with couscous or bulgar wheat. Get tips on picking the best avocados for your salad.

Quick Linguine with Avocado and Artichokes Recipe

In the summer I like to make dinners that are quick and easy to put together.  My oldest daughter is a vegetarian, and since she is living at home this summer I am trying to cook more vegetarian meals on nights she will be home for dinner.

But my husband won’t eat things like tofu or couscous, so I have to balance his more traditional tastes with her preferences. This pasta dish is vegetarian and can be put together in the few minutes it takes to boil pasta.  The artichokes, avocados and corn add a decent amount of vegetables and the jalapeno adds a little bit of spice.

Learn how to pick the perfect avocado!

Linguine with Avocado and Artichoke Recipe - Quick Summer Meal

I have never added avocado to a pasta dish like this before, but it was really good.  It made the dish rich and creamy.  The only disadvantage is that if you have leftovers the avocado will oxidize and turn brown, which makes it not look as appetizing. But we didn’t have any leftovers, so that wasn’t a problem for us!