Make Ahead

Quinoa with Broccoli “Dust”, Haloumi Cheese, and Mint

by:
December  3, 2017
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Quinoa with Broccoli “Dust”, Haloumi Cheese, and Mint
Photo by Karen Barnaby
  • Serves 6 main course servings, 10-12 side servings
Author Notes

I’ve nicknamed this “bro-bouli” because the broccoli gives the salad a wonderful amount of greenery. This makes a large, potluck amount. The recipe is easily halved. —Karen Barnaby

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 8 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt, divided
  • 1 pound broccoli crowns
  • 2 cups quinoa
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint leaves, packed
  • 1/2 coarsely chopped fresh parsley, packed
  • 1 cup crumbled haloumi or feta cheese
  • 4 medium, ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced, about 3/4 lb
  • 4 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
Directions
  1. Bring the water to a boil in a medium pot. Add 1 tsp (5 mL) salt and the broccoli. As soon as it turns bright green, remove it with tongs and cool under cold water. Drain in a sieve or colander and let sit while you prepare the other ingredients.
  2. Add the quinoa to the pot the broccoli was dunked in. Keep at a lively simmer for 10 minutes. Drain the quinoa well, return it to the pot, and cover with tightly with a lid. Let sit for 20 minutes off the heat. Transfer the quinoa to a large bowl.
  3. While the quinoa is cooking and resting, make the dressing. Whisk the lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, 1 tsp (5 mL) salt and pepper together. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Toss with the quinoa and let cool.
  4. Holding the broccoli by the stem, grate the florets and stalks using the large holes of a box grater. Toss the broccoli “dust” with the quinoa. Add the remaining ingredients and toss well. Taste and adjust the seasoning, and serve.
  5. Note: Quinoa and grain salads will diminish in seasoning after refrigeration overnight. Check and correct the seasoning before serving.
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1 Review

Tanya
Tanya January 28, 2018
I love the concept of this dish. The size and beauty definitely make it a perfect pot luck dish. For me it needed about twice as much dressing, which I amped up with ground nutmeg and chili flakes as well (easily could have worked ground cumin in, too, and a little honey. Would consider increasing the mint, too.) I'd also reinforce not cooking the broccoli at all-- literally just getting the color change but keeping the raw texture-- it needs it. Otherwise even just-blanched broccoli is too close in texture to the quinoa.