Fruits From the Garden ~ Purple Dragon Quinoa Summer Salad

Summer is passing fast but thankfully, the fruits from the garden still abound. Growing some of the staples of my plant-based diet proved to be a smart thing to do, and it also taught me some lessons about growing plats like legumes and carrots. But that is another story. I also have a wonderful neighbor next door and she is the tomatoes and peppers maven. They grow so easy for her! And she was generous enough to share some with me. All those fresh veggies and the hot temperatures we have been having, after weeks of 55F- 75F weather, really called for a bright and colorful summer salad.

The name of the salad is in honor of the purple dragon beans which I grew this year. These beauties were a work horse in the garden. They were so prolific that I had to pick beans every other day. While they are purple on the plant, sadly, the color changes to green when cooked. Still, they are delicious and perfect in this recipe.

Today’s recipe is a very forgiving one and truly, you do not need measures. Which makes it perfect for scaling up or down depending on the number of people you are feeding. For this version I added the following ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups red quinoa. cooked

  • 1 orange pepper, chopped

  • 1 yellow pepper, chopped

  • 1/2 cup of chopped kalamata olives

  • 1 can garbanzo beans

  • 1 can cannellini beans

  • 1/3 cup basil

  • 1 cup cucumber, chopped

  • 1 lb of green beans, blanched for 2 mins.

  • Plant-base feta cheese (I use Violife brand)

Combine all the ingredients on a big bowl, dressed with the vinaigrette dressing and serve.

For the dressing, combine:

  • 1/3 olive oil

  • 2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar

  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced

  • Italian seasoning blend

  • Salt and pepper to taste

And that is it! It is super easy and super tasty. And most definitely perfect for a late summer lunch or dinner.

*** One of the reasons I love this salad is because it is jammed packed with protein from the beans and quinoa. I have been trying to increase my protein intake, which can be tricky on a plant-based diet, and salads like these are a great way to do so. But honestly, even if you are not on a plant-based diet, this salad is sure to please the pickiest of palates.

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