Beetroot and Quinoa Salad with Dill

The earthy-flavoured beet goes really well in a salad such as this Beetroot and Quinoa Salad with Dill, which features so many exciting flavours. A great salad to enjoy in Veganuary! If you aren’t keen on giving up meat, add some diced, cooked chicken.

Ingredients

• 90g uncooked mixed seed quinoa
• 40g hazelnuts, halved
• 2 TB olive oil
• 1 TB lemon juice
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 large handfuls mixed salad leaves
• small handful fresh dill, chopped
• ½ apple (55g), cored and diced small, squeeze lemon juice over to avoid oxidisation
• 200g baby beetroot (cooked), quartered

Method

1. Bring 300ml water to the boil and add the mixed seeds quinoa, cooking over a moderate heat until all the water has evaporated and the quinoa has cooked through. Set aside to cool.
2. Roast the halved hazelnuts in a hot, dry pan until toasted. Set aside to cool.
3. In the meantime, make the dressing. Whisk the olive oil and lemon juice in a small bowl or ramekin. Season the dressing with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
4. In a large bowl, drizzle this dressing over the salad leaves. Add the dill and add the cooked (cooled) quinoa. Toss well to evenly coat everything.
5. Divide the dressed leaves / quinoa mixture between two serving bowls.
6. Over each bowl, scatter over the diced apples and beetroot chunks. Drizzle over any remaining dressing.
7. Garnish with the roasted hazelnuts and season the salad with salt, if needed.