Paneer and Vegetable Stir-fry with Quinoa and Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa (white, rinsed well)
• 2 cup water (or no-salt-added vegetable broth)
• 1 tbsp olive oil (optional, for toasting)
• 0.25 tsp garlic powder
• 0.25 tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
• 0.25 tsp salt (optional, for low-sodium version)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• 2 tbsp parsley (fresh, finely chopped)

Instructions

1. 1

   Rinse the quinoa

   • Place the quinoa in a fine-mesh sieve.
   • Rinse thoroughly under cold running water for at least 1 minute, rubbing the grains with your fingers to remove the bitter saponin coating.
   • Drain very well.
2. 2

   Toast the quinoa (optional)

   • Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
   • Add the rinsed and drained quinoa and toast for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until it smells nutty and is slightly golden.
3. 3

   Cook the quinoa

   • Carefully pour the water into the saucepan. Add the garlic powder, black pepper, and salt.
   • Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat.
   • Once boiling, reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 15 minutes.
4. 4

   Rest and fluff

   • After 15 minutes, remove the saucepan from the heat and let it stand, still covered, for 5 minutes. This allows the quinoa to steam and finish cooking.
   • Remove the lid and gently fluff the grains with a fork.
5. 5

   Finish and serve

   • Stir in the fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley.
   • Serve warm as a side dish.

Ingredients

• 1 pcs romaine lettuce (large head, chopped (about 8 cups))
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 1 pcs cucumber (medium, sliced)
• 1 pcs carrot (large, shredded)
• 0.5 pcs red onion (medium, thinly sliced)
• 1 pcs green bell pepper (medium, chopped)
• 1 cup croutons (for topping)
• 0.25 cup olive oil (extra virgin)
• 0.25 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1 pcs garlic (clove, minced)
• 1 tsp sugar (optional, for balancing acidity)
• 0.75 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper (freshly ground)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the salad vegetables. Wash and chop the romaine lettuce. Halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the cucumber and red onion, and chop the bell pepper. Shred the carrot. Place all prepared vegetables in a large salad bowl.

2. 2

   Make the vinaigrette dressing. In a small bowl or a jar with a lid, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Whisk vigorously or seal the jar and shake well until the dressing is emulsified and well combined.

3. 3

   Toss and serve the salad. Just before serving, pour about half of the dressing over the vegetables and toss gently to coat. Add more dressing as needed to your preference. Top with croutons and serve immediately.