Toast Your Quinoa For A Deliciously Unique Salad Topper

A salad is the way to go when you need a quick, convenient meal that's healthy and fresh. Whether building it at home or using your local grocery store salad bar for inspiration, no two salads are alike. An entrée salad can be as boring or exciting as you make it — it all comes down to the ingredients — especially the toppings. One person's compost scraps can be another person's perfect finishing touch.

So what makes the perfect salad topping? First and foremost, there's flavor. Introducing a contrasting note of savory or sweet can help balance the slight natural bitterness of salad greens. Secondly, the topping should add a layer of texture to the greenery. (Hint: crunchy is usually the way to go.) And finally, your salad topper should round out the nutritional profile of the plate. Strategize your garnishes to fill the gap if your salad lacks protein or healthy fats.

Some of the more common embellishments are croutons, cheese, and olives, but a unique option meets all three criteria of taste, texture, and healthiness. It's quinoa — hard to pronounce but easy to love for its versatility and nutrition.

Toasted quinoa is a breeze to make. Broil cooked quinoa on high for about five minutes, tossing occasionally, and you're good to go. Using leftover quinoa speeds up the salad assembly line since quinoa takes about 15 minutes to cook from dry. Season your quinoa during cooking to make that topping even more flavorful.

Another toasting method, according to the popular quinoa manufacturer Ancient Harvest, is to whisk dry (uncooked) quinoa seeds in a sauté pan until they brown. It's worth noting that dry quinoa is coated with a bitter substance called saponin, which acts as an endogenous pesticide. To remove the acrid edge, soak in water for 10-15 minutes before cooking. And do not fear if you see little curly tails appear — that's just the seeds sprouting as they hydrate. They are natural and perfectly safe to eat.

Toasting quinoa will enrich the natural nuttiness of the grain and create that irresistible crunch your salad needs. So don't miss the opportunity to boost the flavor and nutrition of your next assembly of greenery. But if you need more reason to pass on the croutons and reach for the toasted quinoa instead, just look at its powerful nutritional profile.

Quinoa has been gaining popularity among ethnically diverse consumers for years. According to Consumer Reports, quinoa's global popularity exploded in 2013, which the United Nations designated "the International Year of Quinoa." Since then, countless recipes have used the ancient grain as a perfectly seasoned dish that harmonizes well with various proteins and vegetables.

Regarding nutrition, quinoa ticks most of the boxes for healthy diets. It has more fiber than rice or pasta, providing as much protein per cup (cooked) as most beans. Quinoa is gluten-free and vegan, so it works for many people with food sensitivities.

When trying quinoa for the first time, substitute it into a mixed dish wherever you use rice, such as a casserole or vegetable fried rice. Quinoa's nutty, earthy flavor may be noticeable, so a multi-texture recipe is an ideal vehicle for introducing the ingredient to a first-timer.

Word to the wise: when cooking quinoa as a side dish at home, always make extra for toasting. Tomorrow's salad will thank you.