Simple & Healthy Recipe: beetroot and feta quinoa

Hey all, as you know, I'm currently in Paris. However I have been super organised (if this indeed works) and set up my first (low-fat, vegetarian) recipe post EVER to publish whilst I'm away!

After so many holidays lately I've been making a conscious effort to watch what I eat...I have a fair few pounds to shed unfortunately! Being vegetarian I am also always keen to try new foods that provide vitamins and minerals that can be difficult to consume for us leaf-eaters. 

Quinoa is often called a 'supergrain' and is like a cross between brown rice and couscous texture-wise. For those of you who would like to know more about the benefits of quinoa, take a look here.

So here's the recipe - I made it up myself based on quinoa I have bought from a delicatessen in New Zealand.  

It's super quick and easy, and sounds fancy enought to impress your friends!

Ingredients:

Dried quinoa
Stock cube (I used vegetable Oxo)

Feta cheese (I used low fat)
Beetroot
Peppers
Cucumber
Tomato

Olive Oil
Cracked black pepper
Balsamic vinegar to serve (optional)

1. Using the portion guide on the packet of quinoa, add the desired amound into a saucepan (I just guess usually!)

Cover with water, crumble in a stock cube and bring to the boil.

I bought this quinoa from Asda

 

2. Whilst the quinoa is boiling, chop up the peppers, tomatoes, cucumber and beetroot. Quantitiy-wise, use whichever you prefer. I like a chunky salad so use approx half a red pepper, half a yellow pepper, one large tomato and one beetroot.

Let's have a wee peek at my new pink Kuhn Rikon chopping knife! I had it for Christmas from the bf and it is so sharp and wonderously choppy! ;)

3. When the germ is separated from the grain, as seen in the first pic, the quinoa is cooked.
Drain the quinoa, tip into a large mixing bowl and add a splash of olive oil.

4. Stir in the salad vegetables and crumble in a portion of feta. Season with cracked black pepper.

5. Once everything is mixed together, serve in a dish, or pack in a container for a healthy lunch. I like a splash of balsamic vinegar with mine, but that's just because I am slightly obsessed with balsamic vinegar ;)

Enjoy!

Have you ever tried quinoa before?

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Hello there! Yes, another weekend has gone by! This weekend it was Queen's Birthday weekend, so we had an extra day off. Which is funny, because we have the SAME Queen as the UK, but the UK doesn't get a Bank Holiday for Her Majesty's birthday! I guess that's one bonus about living down under :)

Today's post is a bit disjointed, but I wanted to share a few quick things with you.....

1. The boyfriend was away working last week and my new guilty pleasure became this:

Pretty Little Liars (I'm on season one, episode 11 already!!!! Hahaha). Never seen it before, and it is TOTALLY overacted, but I kinda love it :)

2. Today I was interviewed for my own job. Yup. My own job. I've been doing it for 18 months on and off, on a temporary contract, and today I became official!!! HOORAH - for the first time in over two years, I have a REAL JOB!

3. I am opening an Etsy shop!!! I am VERY excited about this, and also very scared. But what the heck, you only live once - so I am going for it. I have been like a little worker bee the last few days and hope to launch it in a week or so. 

4. After all of my weekends away lately the Weight Watchers diet has floundered, as did my gym routine. So today I am OFFICIALLY back on track, and am even celebrating my job success with a Weight Watchers cannelloni recipe!

5. I spent Sunday and Monday at this little bach (NZ holiday home slang) by the beach in a place called Foxton with friends. We had a very relaxed time, ate, drank and played a good old game of Monopoly (I came second!).

How funny is this place!?

Do you have anything to share too?

:)