Quinoa-Beet Rice Salad with Veggies and Feta - Inspiralized.com

Quinoa-Beet Rice Salad with Veggies and Feta

Happy May 1! I can’t believe it’s already been a month since my 27th birthday...

Quinoa-Beet Rice Salad with Veggies and Feta - Inspiralized.com

Happy May 1! I can’t believe it’s already been a month since my 27th birthday and my big cookbook announcement.

Time really does fly when you’re having fun… for lack of a better phrase.

Okay, friends. There’s a little more than 3 weeks until Memorial Day, so you’ll need some fresh summer recipes for your road trips, picnics, days on the beach and your healthy lunches. I’ve got you covered today with this quinoa-beet rice salad.

Quinoa-Beet Rice Salad with Veggies and Feta - Inspiralized.com

Before I dive into my usual recipe brag spiel, let me talk a bit about the cookbook.

On Tuesday night, I went to a cookbook launch party for our friend, Marc. Marc owns a restaurant in TriBeCa aptly called “Marc Forgione” and two steakhouses called American Cut – one in Atlantic City and one in TriBeCa, a few doors down from his first resto. He also happens to be an Iron Chef and engaged. Talk about busy!

I loved celebrating with friends, but most importantly, I was really proud of Marc. His cookbook is not only a work of art, he’s just been such an inspiration to me. Actually, in the very beginning, I was sitting across from him about this time last year, at his restaurant, talking about my ideas for Inspiralized, asking for his advice. What did he tell me?

Quinoa-Beet Rice Salad with Veggies and Feta - Inspiralized.com

Something along the lines of, “If you want something, you’ve got to give it your all. There’s no other option.” He told me to just devote all of my time and energy to Inspiralized and say goodbye to my day job. Pretty daunting advice, but I needed to hear it from someone passionate about what they do.

Thanks for the advice, Marc. It worked!

As you all know, I’m happier than ever and I’m loving blogging about spiralizing and writing my first cookbook. I’ve got a few other projects and tricks up my sleeves, too.

Now, for this veggie-packed beet rice. Beets are great raw. They have that clean, crisp and juicy taste. Beets work well with simple ingredients, like apple cider vinegar and a citrus. That’s what I did today, with a little honey for sweetness and loads of salty and savory veggies, to really seal the deal.

Quinoa-Beet Rice Salad with Veggies and Feta - Inspiralized.com

This big fluffy bowl of “rice” is perfect for a picnic, your Memorial Day party, or just for lunch during the week – it can save up to 3-4 days! The corn and raw beets give this salad its crunch, while the feta and olives give it a salty kick. The avocado adds a soft texture and the quinoa, of course, gives it a protein boost, along with the pinto beans.

Pretty much, I just kept on adding ingredients until I felt comfortable calling it a salad. I’m definitely the girl in the salad bar line asking for every last veggie. “Oh, and carrots and cucumbers and tomatoes and artichokes and broccoli and onions and peppers and olives and …..” Yup, that’s me!

So. Make this beet rice salad and go buy Marc’s book – the pictures are so pretty!

 

 UPDATED: NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Quinoa-Beet Rice Salad with Veggies and Feta - Inspiralized.com

Quinoa-Beet Rice Salad with Veggies and Feta

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 2 .5-3 cups

Ingredients

  • salt to taste
  • 1 ear of corn
  • 1/4 cup dry quinoa
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 medium beets peeled, Blade C
  • pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
  • 1/2 cup pinto beans
  • 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
  • 1/3 cup pitted and halved green manzanilla olives
  • 1/2 avocado peeled, diced in small cubes
  • 1/4 cup feta cheese
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp fresh lime juice

Instructions

  • Cover your ear of corn with lightly salted water in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes or until corn is easily pierced with a fork. Drain into a colander and slice off kernels with a knife, into a bowl. Set aside.
  • In a small saucepan, place in the dry quinoa with the water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 10-15 minutes or until quinoa is fluffy. Add more water by the tablespoon if quinoa sticks to the bottom before its done cooking. Set aside once done.
  • Place your beet noodles in a food processor and pulse until rice-like. Pour into a large mixing bowl with the cilantro, beans, bell pepper, olives, avocado, feta, apple cider vinegar and lime juice.
  • Season with salt and pepper and toss everything to combine thoroughly. Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy!

 

Quinoa-Beet Rice Salad with Veggies and Feta - Inspiralized.com

Quinoa-Beet Rice Salad with Veggies and Feta - Inspiralized.com

Quinoa-Beet Rice Salad with Veggies and Feta - Inspiralized.com

Quinoa-Beet Rice Salad with Veggies and Feta - Inspiralized.com

with love, Ali

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comments

  • Is there any way you could put the nutritional info with your recipes? It would be a big help.
    • On my screen there's always 'Nutritional Info' in a box just before the recipe, just like you see on packaged foods in the grocery store. Wonder why it's on my computer and not on yours? ~ ruth
  • I agree, nutritional info would be great! I base everything on Calories and Protein. All of your recipes sound wonderful (and I have tried 3 now that were very good), but I don't have the time to figure out what the calories are for every recipe. That's one of the reasons why I love skinnytaste.com, all the pertinent info is right there for me. I am having fun using the Spiralizer and want to try all of your recipes! Thanks!
  • Sounds delicious Ali, this will be center stage at our Memorial Day BBQ!
  • Best food blog!!
  • Best food blog!
  • This sounds really good. I recently had a quinoa, beet, orange, feta and marcona almond salad that just about sent me to heaven. Golden beets were cubed and cooked, red beets were julienned and raw. Can't wait to try this; the olive part sounds really good.
  • Thank you Ali! :)
  • I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling over the next few months, so I see this being perfect for toting around with me to make sure I always have good healthy delicious food at my fingertips!
  • Mmm it's combining so many of my favorite ingredients! Love the color too - you can't go wrong with purple/pink!
  • This picture makes my mouth water!! I wanted to mention that sometimes I see the nutritional value box, sometimes it is hidden.
  • Ali, are we supposed to cook the beets at all? Thanks!