Cherry & Walnut Quinoa

Cherry & Walnut Quinoa

Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa, uncooked
½ cup fresh cherries, pitted and sliced lengthwise (dried cherries can be substituted if out of season)
½ cup walnuts, chopped
1 T olive oil
2 shallots, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
Balsamic vinegar, if desired

Directions:

Cook 1 cup of quinoa as directed on package. Substitute vegetable or chicken broth for the appropriate amount of water to give the quinoa more flavor.

Sauté shallots in olive oil until almost translucent (about 3 minutes). Add garlic and sauté together until the garlic is fragrant (about 1 minute). Take shallot-garlic mixture off of heat and set aside.

When quinoa is done, mix in shallot and garlic mixture. Let set together for about 5 minutes. Then toss cherries, walnuts, and feta together with the quinoa. Drizzle a little balsamic vinegar on top of the quinoa for a little zip! Best served warm or at room temperature.