Warm Quinoa Salad

This Warm Quinoa Salad is probably one of my most favorite recipes, that I first tasted when a friend brought it over for my bridal shower. It was so easy to make, and I've already created many varieties of it, substituting some of the ingredients with whatever I have in the fridge at the time.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 2 cups water or vegetable stock
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tomato, seeds and excess pulp removed and chopped
• 1 can adzuki beans, rinsed well
• 4 TBS lemon juice
• 3 TBS olive oil
• 3 cups shredded romaine lettuce
• 1 avocado cubed
• 1 TBS chopped pumpkin seeds
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Combine rinsed quinoa, water, onion, garlic, and a little salt in medium saucepan and turn heat to high. Bring to a boil, cover, lower the heat to low, and simmer gently for about 15 minutes. Fluff with fork and transfer to a bowl. Add chopped herbs, tomato, rinsed adzuki beans, 2 TBS lemon juice, 1 TBS olive oil, salt and pepper.
2. Toss romaine and avocado in rest of lemon juice and 2 TBS olive oil. Season with salt and cracked black pepper. Serve quinoa on bed of salad greens. Sprinkle with chopped pumpkin seeds.