Quinoa and Watermelon Salad with Pistachios and Spicy Pickle

Składniki

2/3 cup (120 g) uncooked quinoa

1.25 cups (300 ml) water

Kosher salt

2 cups (300 g) cubed ripe but firm watermelon, chilled

1/3 cup (75 g) cored, seeded, and sliced Quick-Pickled Chiles (page 277) or other pickled peppers, such as pepperoncini

¼ cup (40 g) finely chopped red onion

½ teaspoon dried oregano

Freshly ground black pepper

1 cup (30 g) lightly packed whole leaves and tender stems from a mix of fresh herbs (choose among basil, mint, parsley, cilantro, shiso)

1 lime

1 tablespoon pickling liquid from whatever chiles you're using

Extra-virgin olive oil

¼ cup (60 g) roasted pistachios (salted or not), roughly chopped

Wskazówki

Put the quinoa in a small saucepan with a lid, along with the water and ½ teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then quickly reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook at a simmer until the quinoa is tender and the liquid has been absorbed, 15 to 18 minutes. If the quinoa is tender but there's liquid left, just drain it off; if the water has been absorbed but the quinoa isn't fully tender, add a few tablespoons more water and keep cooking until tender. Cool completely.

Put the watermelon, sliced chiles, onion, and oregano in a large bowl (it can be the serving bowl). Season generously with salt and pepper and toss gently.

Add the quinoa and fresh herbs. Finely grate the zest of the lime into the bowl, then squeeze the juice from one half onto the salad. Sprinkle on the pickling liquid and about 2 tablespoons olive oil and toss again. Taste and adjust with more salt, pepper, lime juice, pickle juice, or olive oil-you want the flavors to be very zingy.

Finish by tossing with the pistachios. Serve right away.

Notatki

This recipe is dead simple but so satisfying. The tender texture of quinoa plays nicely with watermelon's unique soft-but- crunchy consistency, and it soaks up all the tangy-sweet juices, making every bite flavor-packed. The watermelon tends to give off juice as it sits, however, so the dish is best right after you toss in the final ingredients. If you want to make this one ahead, keep the chunks of melon separate and toss everything together only at the last minute. The salad is also delicious with

cantaloupe or another melon instead of watermelon. -Serves 4