Together with Peru, Bolivia is the leading producer of quinoa in the world. Besides harvesting many different varieties of this seed, it's prepared and consumed massively throughout the region in a number of deliciosa and unique dishes.
As I was contemplating the recipe for this post, I reminisced over the numerous Bolivian recipes I've tasted and finally decided on this exquisita quinoa salad that's extra nutritious and easy to prepare. If you're a vegetarian, it's a complete dish in itself. It also serves as a handy and refrescante side-dish with beef, fish or chicken. Having a summer barbecue with some grilled meat and veggies? Even better for serving alongside this dish.
What I especially like about this salad is that you practically don't have to cook anything else apart from the quinoa! If it's more convenient, you can also purchase canned frijoles to use in this recipe. Just make sure to wash and drain the beans several times before using. Besides red beans, black, kidney, pinto and even lima beans also work well with this dish. Lima beans will create a distinct sabor and personality in this salad as a tasty alternative to using typical beans.
Don't be afraid to switch the fruit used, but overall it's important to preserve the fruit-element of this recipe as it provides a crucial element of sweetness to the salad, as well as adding an enticing 'perfume' to this dish. Did you know that fruit makes a perfect combination with quinoa? Now that you know, let your imagination fly to create your own customized salad using your favorite flavors.