mango quinoa salad

this meal was so delicious i made obnoxious sounds the whole time i ate like What About Bob?. i got the quinoa recipe from Donna during the vegetarian retreat and decided to add mango and stuff it in baked portobello mushrooms.


of course we had to have a side of tater tots. the side of squash was a last minute idea - i baked the butternut squash being used for soup tomorrow with the mushrooms and tots in an effort to save electricity. when i smelled its goodness while i was plating the other heavenly items i decided to sneak a little taste tonight with earth balance (vegan butter), brown sugar and cinnamon.

here is donna's recipe for the quinoa salad. you can thank us later. =)

Mango Quinoa Salad

serves 4

1 C quinoa
1 small cucumber or 1/3 slice regular size - finely diced
kernels from 1 ear of fresh corn
1 1/2 wide sliced of red pepper - finely diced
2 leaves of basil finely chopped
1 sprig of mint - leaves finely chopped
1 T finely chopped cilantro
2 t lightly toasted sesame seeds

marinade:
2 T coconut oil - if thick then heat and melt
1/4 t toasted sesame oil
1 t raw organic agave
1/2" piece of ginger (or more), grated
3 T shoyu or tamari

directions:
cook quinoa with water in a 1:2 ratio (1 C quinoa, 2 C water). bring to a boil, cover and simmer 15 minutes. while quinoa is cooking, mix the marinade, then chop ingredients. (or get someone to chop the ingredients for you while you mix the marinade like i was lucky to have tonight). allow quinoa to cool slightly. add veggies, marinade, mix lightly, and enjoy!

john was proud and wanted to take a picture of his beautiful chopping. now he understands why i make him wait while i digitally capture my meal memories. :P

*kelli's variations:
i used a bit more red pepper, left out the basil, and added one chopped mango. (i learned an interesting way to cut a mango watching this video.) i did not have sesame oil and i added a lot more ginger to the marinade since i love it so much. the ginger/coconut oil/shoyu combination really make this dish. plus the sweetness of the agave and mango! yum!