Delicious Cumin Quinoa Salad with Tuna

Today I threw together a salad for lunch with stuff I had on hand and it was...incredible. I kept saying "mmmmmm" out loud as I was eating it! I feel like I have to give a nod here to the Bread Peddler, as their brown rice and tuna salad was the inspiration for this, even though it has a very different flavor profile. If you ever need a tasty and healthy lunch out in downtown Olympia, that salad at the Bread Peddler is my #1 choice. Anyhow, back to today's salad. It is a simply dressed quinoa salad with tuna and tomatoes on top. I served it on a bed of Galiese lettuce (a delicate, soft butterhead type) that was delivered fresh to the Co-op from Wobbly Cart Farm.


Delicious Cumin Quinoa Salad with Tuna
makes 4 servings
1 large head butter lettuce, washed, spun dry and torn into bite-sized pieces
4 cups cooked quinoa (one dry cup will yield approximately 4 cups cooked)
1 red or yellow pepper, chopped into small pieces
1/4 cup finely chopped red onions
1 large handful cilantro, chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
2 cans high quality chunk light tuna, drained and broken up with a fork
2 ripe roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
salt and pepper
Dressing:
juice of 2 limes (or 1 lemon)
1/2 (heaping) tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/6 cup olive oil

Whisk dressing ingredients in a large bowl. Add cooked quinoa and stir well. Add peppers, onions, cilantro, and walnuts. Stir well. Divide butter lettuce between 4 plates. Top each plate with equal amounts of quinoa salad, tuna, and tomato slices. Sprinkle tomato slices lightly with salt and fresh pepper. Serve.