Curried Quinoa & Chickpea Salad

Nutrition, Recipe

Curried Quinoa Chickpea Salad

By Julia Howard, MPH, RHN

Curried Quinoa Chickpea Salad

I came across this salad several years ago as I was first learning how to use quinoa and I’ve tweaked it a bit since. The beauty of this salad is that the flavours of the spices in the dressing continue to deepen and blend the longer it stays in the fridge. I find it tastes best after a day or so.

If you’re like me, you find quinoa a bit flavourless so it’s not typically my first choice of grain, although it is higher in protein than most grains. This salad is a great way to use up that big bag of quinoa that’s been hanging out in your cupboard.

I like to make it as a light lunch or as a side dish at a barbecue. Note: This recipe will fill a very large bowl!

I will sometimes use lemon juice instead of apple cider vinegar for a slightly different flavour. If you’re not a fan of cilantro, you could try fresh parsley instead for some extra green.

Curried Quinoa & Chickpea Salad

Salad Ingredients

  • 2 cups quinoa (dry)
  • 4 cups veggie broth (e.g., Pacific Foods organic vegetable broth)
  • 1 cup sliced almonds
  • 1 cup craisins (dried cranberries)
  • 1/3 cup green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 orange bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped.

Dressing Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lemon, juiced or 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon mild curry powder
  • 2 tablespoons real maple syrup
  • Sea salt to taste

Directions

  • Cook 2 cups of quinoa in 4 cups of broth.
  • While quinoa is cooking, prepare other ingredients and combine in a large bowl.
  • When quinoa is finished cooking and has cooled, add together ingredients in a large bowl and combine well.
  • Make dressing in a separate container, mix well, and then add to the salad.
  • Eat at room temperature immediately or cover and keep in the fridge for a few days.

Enjoy!

~Julia

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Krista Harding

Personal Strength Training by Thomas King

I joined JKC because I wanted to better care for my physical health, but didn’t really know how, or where, to begin.  Seeking help from a trainer seemed like a wise choice, and I had heard great things about the staff at JKC. Anyone who knows me knows that I hate exercising.  So, I’ve only ever tried sticking with a gym routine twice in my life.  Each experience consisted of me wandering around, not knowing what to do, and settling for an elliptical machine or something else that seemed comfortable and non-threatening.  Each session was the same, and I felt like I was wasting my time.

Each session at JKC, however, is specifically crafted for me.  I don’t have to think about what to do, because I’m told what to do.  I don’t have to worry about how to do things properly, because I’m shown (sometimes multiple times!) how to accomplish each task.  I don’t have to be concerned about slipping into a comfortable routine, because Jon and Thomas won’t let that happen.

Paul Heffernan

Personal Strength Training by Jon-Erik Kawamoto

I have never previously seen the passion and level of care that Jon and Thomas bring to everyone who works out at JKC. Their knowledge, insight and skills are extraordinary, and they work with everyone individually to ensure the best possible results. The attention to detail and to every person’s specific requirements and goals, and the incredible, constant encouragement they provide, is, in my opinion, what truly distinguishes JKC from any other program in which I’ve participated. I am extremely pleased with the progress I’ve achieved thus far, and it’s largely attributable to Jon and Thomas and the approach they take to training and working with people.

Lloyd Hussey

Personal Strength Training by Jon-Erik Kawamoto

I started at JKC in January of 2014 and I’m 67 years old. When I had my Initial Assessment, I knew – almost immediately – that Jon knew what he was doing and what he was talking about. I was overweight, out of shape, and in serious need of someone, like Jon, who could get me back on a fitness/conditioning routine that suited me, my age, my less than acceptable physical condition, my sometimes intermittent RA, and my need for a structured, consistent and yet flexible training and conditioning program that would work for me.

Fundamentally, if I made a choice at all with respect to JKC – it was to continue to come back each week. I have not been in a lot of gyms. To be honest, they used to intimidate me. What makes JKC different is their approach to each and every one of their clients. Jon and Thomas – and now Craig – tailor each training regime to the particular needs of each client. That ensures that the training regime will suit each client upon the start of training and changes as the client improves. It adjusts for any physical setbacks such as injuries and it adjusts for success. It is just that simple.

It is also the consistent encouragement that comes from Jon, Thomas and Craig. That voice that comes to you while you are in the middle of a particularly difficult set – rear-foot elevated split squats comes to mind immediately – that says “good job” or “keep it up” or “just a couple more reps.” To know, in that moment, that you are not alone and the trainer is paying attention to what you are doing. That is priceless for me.

Sean Leet

Personal Strength Training by Jon-Erik Kawamoto

I saw an article in Men’s Journal that quoted Jon in about 2018 while traveling and was impressed that someone in St. John’s made that international magazine.  Jon spoke about an exercise called the Farmer’s Walk and I started working that into my routine at the YMCA. I tore that article out of the magazine and kept it, meaning to make contact, but got busy. Then I had lunch with an old friend Bruce Dyke. I hadn’t seen Bruce for a while and I remarked that he looked super healthy and fit. He told me about his, and his son Cas’, experience at JKC and then I remembered the Men’s Journal article! No coincidences!

The experience is unique on many levels – great people, camaraderie, passion, purpose, and dedication. Jon and Thomas are attentive, precise and understanding.  Their teaching has unlocked a new perspective for me with what our bodies are capable of. I still appreciate the YMCA, wonderful place, but I can’t imagine working out without Jon and Thomas now.

Jodi Dodge

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