There is NOTHING better than a good salad on a hot summers day – and today was no exception. After visiting the M&G Garden at Chelsea Flower Show this afternoon in the swealtering heat and stupidly getting sucked into the temptations of Oxford Street, I headed to the cool and quiet Waitrose foodhall in John Lewis to purchase a few bits and bobs to make a very delicious and healthy Quinoa Salad. The recipe serves four but my boyfriend and I were particularly hungry this evening so there was nowt left.

Quinoa and Feta Salad, originally uploaded by Food For Think.

Ingredients

1 tsp corriander powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
Good glug of olive oil
300g Quinoa
600ml boiling water
2 radishes, thinly sliced
A few handfuls of watercress and rocket
3 spring onions, chopped
Hand full of tenderstem brocolli
Hand full of green beans
Roughly chopped corriander
50g feta cheese (I used Unearthed)
18 cherry tomatoes, 12 roasted and 6 halved
10 sun dried tomatoes
Flaked almonds (to your own taste)
Salt and pepper

Method

1. Heat the olive oil in a pan and add the spices. Fry off for a minute then add the quinoa
2. Pour the boiling water over the quinoa and leave to simmer for 15-20 minutes or until all of the water has been absorbed – season with salt and pepper
3. Meanwhile, blanch the brocolli and green beans (boil for a few minutes until just tender, drain and place in cold water until needed)
4. When the quinoa is ready, mix with the rest of the ingredients (the quinoa can be served hot or cold)
5. Scatter the flaked almonds, feta cheese and corriander on top and add another glug of olive oil

Enjoy!