It’s June, school is out, and the vegetables are starting to pop in the garden, all signs that it’s summer, even if the weather still feels like spring. I enjoy walking through the garden in the morning, watering and checking for signs of critters and weeds. It’s a relaxing way to start my day.
This year I added more parsley to the herb bed because I just love it in summer salads. And I think it doesn’t get enough recognition in the food world, where it’s too often relegated to garnish or a flavor enhancer, but it’s actually very good for you. Parsley has 13 vitamins and minerals, including protein and substantial amounts of vitamins A, C, K, and folic acid, plus iron and beta carotene. Both the flat leaf and curly parsley make excellent salads, like this quinoa avocado salad, and they grow easily in home gardens.
Growing parsley is pretty easy, it just needs full sun and rich, well-drained soil. The seeds have a tough outer coating and germinate slowly, but you can speed the process by soaking the seeds in water overnight before planting, and you can put them in the ground about 3 to 4 weeks before last frost. You can also find plants at any local nursery or garden center. As the parsley grows and starts to take off, snip off the outer stems. The plant will continue to produce and you’ll have parsley all season long. Parsley is a biennial, which means it will flower the next season and then die, so you will need to put in new plants each year.
Recipe Notes
This is another good make ahead recipe, just make the lemon vinaigrette and quinoa the day before you plan to eat it. The quinoa will be nicely chilled in the refrigerator, and the vinaigrette ingredients will have melded well.
Quinoa Avocado Salad with Parsley, Corn, Tomatoes, and Lemon Vinaigrette
Equipment
- small bowl
- 2-quart pot with lid
- large bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa (I used Trader Joe’s Tricolor Quinoa in the photo above.)
- 12 ounces fresh sweet corn (from the cob, or thawed from frozen)
- 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley (chopped)
- 4 plum tomatoes (diced)
- 2 large avocados (cubed
)
Lemon Vinaigrette
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest
- 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 3 lemons)
- 3 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1½ teaspoons sea salt
- ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
- VINAIGRETTE – Whisk together all the vinaigrette ingredients in the small bowl, and set aside.
- QUINOA - Prepare the quinoa according to the package directions. Transfer to the large bowl and cool.
- Toss the corn, parsley, and diced tomatoes with the quinoa. Gently fold in the avocadoes and the lemon vinaigrette, and allow to rest about 5 minutes, then serve.
Theresa says
My partner forwarded this recipe to me about 24 hours ago. I was immediately intrigued. Avocado & Quinoa are some of my favorite foods. And lemon? I wouldn't want to live my culinary life without it.
I can report that this was a fresh, light and entirely delicious. We served it with a small piece of Orange Roughy and a wedge of Naan. To die for. 🙂
Andrea says
Hi Theresa! Your dinner sounds delicious, and I'm so glad you like the salad. 🙂
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) says
Thanks so much for linking to my tabbouleh recipe. I grown more parsley every year, and I agree, it's greatly underrated as an ingredient. Nothing compares to the flavor of garden-fresh flat-leaf parsley.
kristy @ the wicked noodle says
As someone who was served this salad personally by the chef, I can attest that it's delicious!! I'm happy to see the recipe posted, I'm going to make it this week.
Kim says
Can't wait to try this recipe! Love everything in it. My only question is should I double it our not? Knowing my family probably.