In love with quinoa

Yotam Ottolenghi is a genius, and I may have mentioned it before on this blog already. His 'new vegetarian' column in the Guardian has opened my eyes to the world of vegetables, and even though most of his recipes do have a long list of (sometimes unfamiliar Iranian) ingredients, it has been worthwhile to restock my store cupboard.

This is the recipe I have made twice in a week since I got back to London. The addition of cumin and chilli is a work of genius.

Avocado, quinoa and broad bean salad (serves 6, easily half-able)

200g quinoa

500g podded broad beans

2 medium lemons

2 small ripe avocados

2 garlic gloves, crushed

200g fresh breakfast radishes, sliced lengthways

50g purple radish cress or small, fresh purple basil leaves

1 tbsp ground cumin

75ml olive oil

1/4 tsp chilli flakes

1. Place the quinoa in a pan of water, bring to the boil and simmer for 9 minutes. Drain in fine sieve, rinse under cold water, and set aside to dry.

2. Throw the broad beans into a pan of boiling water, return to the boil and drain immediately. Refresh with cold water and set aside to dry. Gently press each bean with your fingers to remove the skins, then discard.

3. Top and tail the lemons. Stand each one on a chopping board and cut down the sides, following the natural curve, to remove the skin and white pith. Over a large bowl, cut in between the membranes to release the segments into the bowl. Squeeze in the juice from the membranes.

4. Peel, stone, and thinly slice the avocados. Add to the bowl and toss to cover in the lemon juice. Add the dry quinoa, broad beans, garlic, radishes, half the radish cress, cumin, oil, chilli flakes and some salt and pepper. Toss gently, without breaking the avocado, and season again if needed. Serve garnished with the remaining cress.

This was the version I made, substituting the broad beans with asparagus (why can't I find broad beans anywhere at the moment?!), lemon with lime, and I couldn't find any purple cress:

This is so so so good, try it. I am in fact having it for my lunch!