Lunch: Farmers' Market Quinoa Salad

Don't obsess over getting these exact ingredients in this precise combination. Any nut you like will work here for crunch, and you're looking for a mix of bright herbs and enough cooked grains to make it substantial.

This recipe includes fertility superfoods such as:

Broccoli, Basil

Health and fertility benefits of Farmers' Market Quinoa Salad

Broccoli is one of the non-starchy vegetables that has a very low glycemic index (GI), which is beneficial for reducing blood sugar levels. Broccoli is also a source of DIM (Diindolymethane). Diindolymethane is very effective in reducing the testosterone levels in the body, an action that would automatically curb male dominant features and regulate the estrogen levels in the system. Basil is an excellent stress reliever, and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Ingredients

1/2 cup raw pistachios
8 ounces green beans and/or wax beans
4 ounces sugar snap peas
Kosher salt
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh tender herbs (such as parsley, chives, basil, tarragon, and dill)
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Freshly ground black pepper
2 small or 1 large head of broccoli, florets chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 cups pea shoots (tendrils)
1 cup cooked quinoa (from about 1/3 cup raw)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 °F. Toast pistachios on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until golden brown, 8 –10 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely chop.
Meanwhile, cook green beans and sugar snap peas in a pot of salted boiling water until no longer raw but still very crunchy, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a bowl of ice water and let sit until cold, about 3 minutes. Drain, pat dry, and thinly slice into bite-size pieces.
Blend herbs, oil, vinegar, mustard, and 2 tablespoons toasted pistachios in a blender, adding water by the tablespoonful if dressing is too thick, until smooth and the consistency of heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper.
Toss beans, peas, broccoli, pea shoots, quinoa, and remaining toasted pistachios in a medium bowl to combine. Drizzle salad with dressing and toss again to nicely coat everything; season with salt and pepper.

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