Quinoa and black bean salad with honeydew salsa

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad with Honeydew Salsa

This one came together with leftovers and it was super yummy.  A great side dish to salmon fish cakes.

Ingredients
1 C quinoa, pan roasted then cooked in 2 C water for ~15 minutes (then rested for 5 minutes)
3-6 cups slow cooker black beans (or canned black beans would work just fine)
1 recipe honeydew salsa (see below) -- ideally made ahead for all east an hour to marinate a bit
fresh sliced lemons to squeeze on top


Honeydew salsa
Inspired from Martha Mckittrick & Michelle Anderson, The Type 2 Diabetic Cookbook &
Action Plan (p. 146)
2 C ripe honeydew melon, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 scallion, finely diced
optional: 2 T fresh cilantro, thyme, mint, or oregano
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Mix it all together and let them marinate a bit.


Instructions:
1. Combine quinoa and black beans. Salt and pepper to taste
2. Stir in the salsa
3. Squeeze lemons on to taste.








 

quinoa

Slow cooker black beans

This one is super healthy and super yummy. Tonight we served it with roasted potatoes, raw bell peppers, chopped heirloom tomatoes fresh from the garden, cilantro and salsa. Maudemarie loved the beans and devoured them con gusto!  The recipe is easily doubled for a huge slow cooker.

Ingredients
2 quarts (8 cups) chicken broth
a goodly bunch of cilantro, chopped with stems
2 cups black beans (I like to soak them overnight first)
1-2 chopped peppers, such as jalapeño, poblano, etc. (optional)

Instructions
Cook in slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 6 hours, or until beans are soft.

Variation:
Substitute one can of pumpkin puree for 2 cups of the chicken broth. I made this version, along with two jalapeños, at Martini Mist (my Aunt Linda and Uncle Bruce's place in Winter Harbor, Maine). It made an amazing accompaniment to freshly harvested steamed mussels!