Healthy Summer Recipe. Fast- Easy- and Fun!

 Try this fun summer recipe I found on eatingwell.com! I love this site. Such interesting recipes to try this summer! =)

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed well (see Tip)
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 small cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 6- or 8-ounce package baked smoked tofu, (see Tip), diced
• 1 small yellow bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint

Preparation

1. Bring water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add quinoa and return to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until the water has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Spread the quinoa on a baking sheet to cool for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, whisk lemon juice, oil, garlic, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the cooled quinoa, tofu, bell pepper, tomatoes, cucumber, parsley and mint; toss well to combine.

Tips & Notes

• Make Ahead Tip: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day.

• Tips: Quinoa is a delicately flavored, protein-rich grain. Rinsing removes any residue of saponin, quinoa's natural, bitter protective covering. Find it in natural-foods stores and the natural-foods sections of many supermarkets.
• Precooked “baked tofu” is firmer than water-packed tofu and comes in a wide variety of flavors. You might also like flavored baked tofu on a sandwich or in a stir-fry.

Nutrition

Per serving: 228 calories; 10 g fat ( 1 g sat , 6 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 26 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 9 g protein; 4 g fiber; 376 mg sodium; 418 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (80% daily value), Iron (25% dv), Vitamin A (20% dv), Magnesium (19% dv).