Quinoa with Mozzarella, Snow Peas, and Cherry Tomatoes

Since this is prepared ahead of time and served chilled, it is EXCELLENT for lunches! I’m preparing on the weekend, portioning out, and chilling in individual tupperwares for the week. 

Start with 2 cups of Basic Quinoa:

Instapot Quinoa if you have an Instapot

Or Basic Quinoa here if you want to do it on the stove.

Once you’ve got your quinoa going, I’m adding some frozen chopped spinach to mine to cut the calories and up the nutrients a bit. I’m cooking two 12oz bags of frozen chopped spinach in the microwave.

Then I’m getting out my snow peas, cherry tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella.

Slice your snow peas on the diagonal, and I’m sticking mine in the microwave for a couple minutes. You can use them raw if you prefer!

My super-cool yellow, red, and purple cherry tomatoes are just getting halved, and then the mozzarella log is getting sliced into bite-sized pieces.

Are those not the BEST tomatoes? Splurge on yourselves sometimes!

Mix your dressing ingredients together, and whisk well.

When the quinoa is done, let it sit 5-10 minutes, fluff with a fork, then mix all ingredients together. Drizzle dressing over it and stir well.

Refrigerate and serve cold.

QUINOA WITH MOZZARELLA, SNOW PEAS, AND CHERRY TOMATOES

2 cups dried quinoa, prepared

2 12oz bags frozen chopped spinach

8oz snow peas

1 pint cherry tomatoes

8oz fresh mozzarella 

Dressing ingredients:

1/4 C lemon juice

2 T Dijon mustard

2 T olive oil

3/4 t sea salt

1/4 t freshly ground pepper

Cook quinoa: Basic Quinoa is the link for stove top quinoa, and Instapot Quinoa for instapot. I prefer Instapot, myself, because it can’t boil over.

Cook spinach according to package directions. Cut snow peas on the diagonal; microwave 2 minutes. Halve cherry tomatoes and slice mozzarella into bite sized pieces.

Mix dressing ingredients together and whisk well.

When quinoa is done, let sit 5 minutes and then fluff with a fork. Combine quinoa, spinach, snow peas, tomatoes, and mozzarella. Drizzle dressing over quinoa salad and mix well.

Serve chilled.

Servings: 7

Calories per serving: 325