Summer is here, and I for one am super excited to say hello to balmy summer nights, barbecues and meals eaten outside with family and friends while the kids run amok! Is there anything better? Why yes there is…and that thing is a potluck recipe that is always devoured by guests and takes mere minutes to put together.
I just love having a super quick and easy recipe on hand to bring along to potlucks. My husband, bless his cotton socks, always tells me about the BBQ’s we have been invited to on the day of, and never remembers to ask the host what we should bring. Fun, right? This Quick and Easy Quinoa Salad has become my go-to recipe for such occasions, and it has saved me from being a terrible guest more than once!
I was devastated this past weekend when I went into the yard and discovered the snails had eaten ALL of my fresh basil…AGAIN. They get it every time! I love adding fresh garlic and herbs to my dishes, as they really liven up a recipe and give it the boost needed to really stand out. But sometimes the snails eat your basil, or your supermarket only has sad-looking limp garlic in the vegetable bins…
And this my friends is where Dorot comes in. They come in little pre-portioned cubes of garlic, herbs and other flavorings that are chopped/crushed and flash frozen within 90 minutes of being harvested, so they are at the peak of their freshness. Each cube is a pre-measured teaspoon which makes incorporating them into your own recipes super easy and hassle-free. You just take what you need, and refreeze the rest! And they taste and smell absolutely amazing.
Seriously, while whipping up this batch of easy quinoa salad, I peeled back the wrapper and a burst of basil hit me so hard it was hard to believe I hadn’t just picked it fresh from the garden myself.
And what’s even better – there are no artificial preservatives, it’s vegan, gluten-free, kosher and contains the bare minimum of ingredients. Plus there’s no need to attend the summer bbq with stinky garlic hands, as it’s all chopped up and ready for you! Don’t believe me? Pop over here and see for yourself!!!
We found ours at the local Trader Joes, which was really handy, but check out the store locator to find out where you can pick up your own supply of Dorot.
While you’re there, you can learn more about how to use them and get lots of flavorful recipes. There’s just so many ways you can incorporate Dorot into your summer dishes and drinks, and make summer entertaining more simple and hassle free.
Hanging out with my easy pre-prepared salad waiting for the rest of the BBQ 🙂
I just love hearing from you, so if you try out my Quick and Easy Quinoa Salad be sure to leave a comment and let me know. Or if you have an awesome potluck recipe or a favorite way to use Dorot products, leave that as well so everyone can benefit. Happy eating!
Take your next summer BBQ to another level with this delicious Quick and Easy Quinoa Salad which is just packed with beautiful colorful summer veggies and a surprising burst of flavor from Dorot fresh frozen garlic and basil. Elevate your Plate!
- 2 cups uncooked quinoa
- 1 cube Dorot crushed garlic see notes
- 2 cubes Dorot frozen basil see notes
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 1 cup organic shelled edamame
- 1 cup sweet bell peppers, choppped
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/3 cup feta cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Cooked quinoa according to package instructions. Once cooked add frozen garlic and frozen basil cubes to the hot quinoa, stir to coat and let sit and defrost for one minute before stirring again to combine. Set aside to cool.
Once the quinoa has cooled, add in the corn, edamame, sweet peppers, tomatoes and onion and toss to combine.
Add the feta, fresh lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper and toss to combine. Serve and enjoy.
Store in the fridge in an airtight container.
Dorot products can be found at these locations.
One Dorot cube is the equivalent of one teaspoon.
Hi there, can I use bulgur instead of quinoa?
I loved this recipe, pinned 😉
Hi Rea, Yes bulgur would definitely work, the texture will be a bit different but the taste will still be there 🙂
I keep hearing about the Dorot products, but have yet to try them! They seem like a great timesaver and like they easily bring great flavor to so many recipes. Your quinoa salad sounds right up my alley. Really gorgeous photos, too. So inviting!
Oh thank you Amanda, the colors in the salad made them great for photography!! I have only happened upon Dorot in the last couple of months, and I am definitely a convert. They speed things up so much, and are so handy when you don’t have access to fresh herbs.
This looks lovely! I’m always going on and off of quinoa, looking for that perfect recipe. I tend to be a little indifferent to quinoa in general, but with the right flavours I feel like it can really pop – and garlic/basil sounds like a great place to take things!
Oh, and on a totally unrelated note, I have never heard the expression “bless his cotton socks,” but now I love it. Cheers 🙂
Haha I grew up in Ireland and it was a very common expression there 🙂
I love quinoa salad, but I’m getting so bored with our current recipe. This is a great way to switch it up–we love edamame! These cubes are so convenient to have on hand. Pinned 🙂
Oh yay! It is so easy to get stuck in a rut with recipes. We love edamame too, my kids request it ALL the time, so it gets thrown into everything these days 🙂
First…I LOVE those awesome little cubes. So easy to use…and NO waste. Now for the delicious recipe. Quinoa is such a great ingredient. Love the nutty taste, not to mention how nutritious it is. This is perfect to take to the cottage, and picnics at the beach.
Oh now I want to go for a picnic at the beach (although its like 2 hours away and 105 so thats not happening!) They are super handy, I have become quite hooked, especially when I can’t find fresh garlic at the markets
Love this!! What a fantastic side dish! I love those dorot cubes, too – they make life so much easier!
Oh they are so handy to have on hand in the freezer aren’t they!
I love Dorot!!! It’s great to have herbs ready in the freezer. On a side note- try planting your basil in containers, and then put half of a grapefruit upside down on the dirt at night. The slugs/snails will crawl up in it!
Thanks for the tip – I am definitely going to try that!! I have seriously tried everything else (except the chemicals), including some weird beer bath, so I am willing to try anything at this point!