It’s been a little weird out here in the boonies. Because of the fire, our water level has been very low and then a few nights ago, the main water line for our subdivision broke sending 257 thousand gallons of water down the mountain! It washed out part of the road and completely emptied our tank, so since Saturday I’ve been waterless which has really made it difficult to cook.
Anyway I love this savory dish that I made a few weeks ago. It can be a main dish salad or side salad or it’s great to take to a potluck. It can go pretty much anyway you want it to! It’s easy to put together and pretty impressive looking, if I do say so myself.
- 1 lb asparagus
- olive oil
- 2 C quinoa
- ½ lb goat cheese
- fresh parsley
- 2 T red wine vinegar
- can of large olives
- 1 large tomato
- kosher salt
- pepper from the mill
- ¼ C sherry vinegar
- 1 T Dijon mustard
- 1 dried chili, crushed
- ½ C pitted olives
- ½ C olive oil
- Make the vinaigrette:
- In a blender mix sherry vinegar, dijon mustard, pinch of salt and a grind or two of pepper, crushed chili pepper, olive oil and the ½ C of pitted olives
- Blend until smooth
- Trim the asparagus, cutting the spears in half and drizzle with olive oil (a few T should do it)
- Sprinkle with kosher salt and a few grinds of the pepper mill
- Bring 8 C of water to a boil
- Add quinoa and cook according to directions on the box
- Heat up the grill or broiler and cook the asparagus for a few minutes on each side
- When the quinoa is ready, rinse it thoroughly, let it drain, pushing down on it a bit to get all of the water out
- Place quinoa on a large serving platter, sprinkle with red wine vinegar and mix thoroughly
- Mix in ½ of the vinaigrette
- Sprinkle with the goat cheese, olives and chopped parsley
- Place the grilled asparagus on top and garnish with the tomato
- Sprinkle the rest of the vinaigrette over the asparagus and tomato
I served this with a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, grilled chicken and crusty bread.
Adapted from a Bobby Flay recipe.
EG CameraGirl says
September 11, 2013 at 12:41 pmMy mouth is watering. This sounds very good.
Barb says
September 11, 2013 at 1:58 pmNow you’re talking! Protein in the Quinoa and veggies – my kind of meal. No water – what a pain. Hope you aren’t waterless for much longer. Hope you have a spare outhouse.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
September 11, 2013 at 5:16 pmOh no! It must be hard being without water. I was thinking that it was Dick’s doing for a second! But this salad is definitely a winner 😀
JDaniel4's Mom says
September 11, 2013 at 5:20 pmThis looks like a dish from a high end restaurant. It looks delicious.
Teresa says
September 11, 2013 at 6:09 pmSo sorry to hear things have been difficult. Hope you get your water soon and Mother Nature takes it a bit easier on you.
VBR says
September 11, 2013 at 7:12 pmFirst of all – I am sorry that you are having such challenges right now with the water. You have been through so much. You are a real trooper. Positive energy and prayers coming your way.
Second – thanks for sharing this beautiful recipe. I am going to make it this weekend, and I am going to send it to my niece, who at age 38 has been diagnosed with a severe allergy to wheat/gluten. She can eat quinoa so this is going to be a welcome addition to her new recipes.
Little Wandering Wren says
September 11, 2013 at 10:53 pmNever apologise for a repeat because it’s lucky timing for me because:
1 – I didn’t see it the first time
2 – I am in need of great new recipes
So thank you and hope things pick up for you soon
Wrenx
Nora says
September 12, 2013 at 3:14 amHope things get better for you ASAP (btw you’re welcome to some of our water here in S Spain – we’ve been flooded!)
Keep safe too!
debra@ frugallittlebungalow says
September 12, 2013 at 3:58 amThis looks delicious. My niece loves quinoa too…will have to make it with her sometime. I am so sorry about the water…UGH! Can it get any worse, sheesh…
Barbara says
September 12, 2013 at 4:17 amOh dear, sorry about your water. Just one thing after another!
Great salad!
Arkansas Patti says
September 12, 2013 at 5:14 amGracious. Your area can’t get a break. Sure hope your have water soon. I was out for a few hours yesterday and felt put upon. Can’t imagine how awful it must be for you to be water-less for so long. Hope all is well again very soon.
Love anything with asparagus. That I will try.
Carol Covin says
September 12, 2013 at 6:37 amI love quinoa and we often have it on hand. Never thought to toss it in a salad, or, as you do, build a salad around it. It’s probably great with asparagus.
Leovi says
September 12, 2013 at 12:40 pmThat tasty recipe …!
Freda Mans says
September 12, 2013 at 3:01 pmLooks delicious, would definitely try that salad!
ann chin says
September 13, 2013 at 2:14 pmI didn’t have quinoa to eat but I have heard abt it from cooking shows, I even had a discussion with my daughter who came back from Mexico. I mistakenly heard that it comes from Africa, and she corrected me.
Your instructions are amazing.
p/s I like Western springs so much that I just went despite the cold and rain. goslings cygnets, ducklings.
Cathy Kennedy says
September 14, 2013 at 3:23 pmThis looks fabulous! I love how you captured each step of preparation – beautiful photo-essay for an quintessential post! 😀
momofnine says
September 14, 2013 at 6:30 pmThis looks fabulous. The colors and the quinoa make such a pretty combination. Your photos are wonderful. I can’t believe you continue to produce such great blogs with all of your struggles. You are inspirational. Thank you!
Anne says
September 15, 2013 at 9:02 amYour meals are always so lovely and presented so beautifully. I love asparagus so that makes me smile! Wish Colorado could send you some of the rain. We were suppose to go to a birthday party for our lil great grand son but since rain is coming and the party is near Commerce City, there is too much devastation there to risk going out. We will relax and watch football instead! We need a break, tomorrow is another week of business at both of our jobs! Sigh!
Hugs to you and I always pray about your lawsuit. I wish you well.
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says
September 16, 2013 at 12:33 pmIt looks like a recipe worth repeating. How your water is back now!
Maria@PersonalizedSketches says
September 18, 2013 at 2:01 pmYum! We are having quinoa tonight with baked chicken and broccoli… so I will rustle up some olives, feta cheese and see if I have the other of your ingredients…
Blessings & Aloha!
Jenny Matlock says
September 19, 2013 at 12:33 pmIt is really difficult to cook with no water…
Thanks for taking the time to post this yummy recipe for the letter “Q”…
It looks like a very high quality salad!
A+