courtesy of Sylvia Fountaine

Lovely Spring Salad for any occasion: Optional garnishes- crumbled goat cheese or feta, sliced avocado, sunflower sprouts or pea shoots, flower petals- chive blossoms are nice.

Salad Ingredients
1 cup quinoa (dry)
1 1/2 cup water (or for more flavor, use Veg or chicken broth)
Pinch salt
1 bunch asparagus, chopped into 1 inch pieces
2 cups shelled fresh English peas or substitute radishes, snap peas or even spring greens.
3 scallions – thinly sliced at a diagonal
½ cup fresh herbs chopped, such as cilantro, parsley, dill, thyme
1/4 cup sliced or slivered almonds, toasted ( optional, or sub other nut or seed)

Dressing
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
zest from 1 lemon
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice ( 1–2 lemons)
1/2–1 teaspoon kosher salt or other crunchy flake salt
pepper to taste

Method

1. Rinse the quinoa and place it in a pot with the water and pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, cover, lower heat, and allow it to simmer on low heat for 12-15 minutes. Turn off heat, and let sit covered for 5 -10 minutes, then uncover, fluff with a fork and let it cool.
2. While the quinoa is cooking, blanch the peas and asparagus in salted boiling water for just a few minutes, until bright and tender. Rinse under cold water.
3. Place the cooled quinoa and blanched veggies in a bowl. Add the scallions, dill and almonds and give a toss. Add the oil, lemon zest and lemon juice and salt, pepper and stir again.
4. Taste, adjust salt and lemon, adding more if you like. If you are making this ahead, be sure to taste before serving as flavors will mellow – so I’ll usually add a little more salt and lemon.
5. Serve with optional avocado, feta, goat cheese, sunflower sprouts.