Quinoa & Raw Vegetable Salad

This is the healthiest salad I could come up with for a good friend of mine who is vegetarian. It is so fresh and tastes great. Good as a side dish with hummus and pita. Enjoy!

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 4
• Yields: 1 4 cups

Ingredients

• 1  cup quinoa (must rinse! or it will be bitter also I toast mine for a nutty flavor!)
• 3  cups  vegetables or 3  cups  chicken stock
• 1  teaspoon turmeric (for color) (optional)
• 3⁄4 cup beet (fresh washed and peeled) (optional)
• 3⁄4 cup sweet onion
• 1⁄2 cup carrot
• 1⁄2 cup celery, diced fine
• 1⁄2 cup bell pepper (multicolor looks great!)
• 1⁄2 cup radish (optional)
• 1  teaspoon garlic (fresh diced extra fine)
• 1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1⁄4 cup red wine or 1⁄4 cup  balsamic vinegar
• 1  teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 3  tablespoons Italian parsley, flat leaf
•  salt and pepper

Directions

1. Dice fine all vegetables, I cut into "matchsticks" and dice in uniform.
2. Toast rinsed grain with onion, then add stock with turmeric, 15 minutes or till liquid is absorbed.
3. now make the dressing, oil, vinegar, garlic, mustard, parsley salt & pepper.
4. toss well with quinoa and vegetables
5. Let sit over night if possible, or a few hours.