I love my husband, I really do.
After nearly four years of marriage I’ve come to accept his quirky habits like removing his socks in the middle of the night and shoving them deep into the recesses of our bed sheets. Likewise, he’s come to endure my tendency to hang my workout clothes on doorknobs to “dry” after coming home from the gym.
Quite the pair, no? ;)
Anyway, there’s just one thing I can’t get past – the way he eats kiwi.
Instead of cutting the ends off the kiwifruit, removing the peel and neatly slicing or chopping the flesh before consuming, he eats the kiwi like an apple, skin and all. To me, the thought of eating or even licking kiwifruit skin is the visual equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. I can’t even!
It’s easier this way! he claims. Plus, fiber!
To each his own, I suppose, but I am definitely peeling the fruit for Kiwi Mango Quinoa Salad!
Tart, fuzz-free kiwi, sweet mango, crisp tomatoes, spicy red onion and bright cilantro are mixed with protein-packed quinoa and dressed with a tongue-tingling Lime & Ginger Vinaigrette. Fresh and crisp, this salad is perfect for a light lunch or supper!
First things first, I’ve been posting a few more quinoa recipes than normal, so I thought I’d take a second to give you a refresher course on this awesome super food.
Pronounced “keen-wa” quinoa is actually a seed from South America which has been eaten for thousands of years. Quinoa is gluten free, and high in protein, calcium, iron, and fiber. It’s great for people looking for a high-protein meat alternative, and I personally feel better about eating it in place of white rice, for instance, which can’t hold a nutritional candle to quinoa.
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Quinoa cooks the same as rice – boil 2 parts water –> add 1 part quinoa –> cook until tender – and can be enjoyed in many ways like in casseroles, as a side dish, and in salads. It’s got a mild flavor all its own, which I can best describe as nutty, and has a fun, poppy texture. The quinoa seeds also look like little springs when they’re cooked, which is absolutely precious.
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Quinoa does have a bitter coating on the outside, so make sure you rinse it well in a mesh colander before cooking. Other than that, its quickly become one of my very favorite foods. Especially when it helps pump up my sweet and fruity Kiwi Mango Quinoa Salad.
This salad comes together super quick after putting in a few minutes of face time with the cutting board. Simply combine cooked and cooled quinoa with chopped red onion, cilantro, kiwi, mango and grape tomatoes.
PS I HAVE to show you my favorite method for quickly and easily peeling kiwifruit. First, cut the top and bottom off the fruit.
Next, slide a spoon in between the peel and flesh.
Finally, spin the spoon around the perimeter, and the flesh will pop right out. It seriously takes less than 30 seconds. I keep telling him! ;)
At any rate, after chopping all the salad ingredients, mix up a refreshing Lime & Ginger Vinaigrette to drizzle on top. Combine extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil and rice vinegar in a bowl or jar.
Add lime zest, lime juice, microplaned or finely minced ginger, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.
Shake it all up, drizzle over the salad, and serve!
I topped my portion of Kiwi Mango Quinoa Salad with a little bit of crumbled goat cheese because I bought nearly 4lbs of it (not really, but close) in a moment of weakness at Costco this weekend and am pretty much putting it in everything to use it up, but I think the salad would be just as good without it!
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Kiwi Mango Quinoa Salad
Description
Kiwi Mango Quinoa Salad is full of healthy fruits and veggies, making it perfect for a light lunch or dinner!
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed & drained
- 2 cups water
- 2 kiwi, chopped
- 1 mango, chopped
- 1 cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1/4 cup red onion, minced
- 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
- For the Lime Ginger Vinaigrette:
- 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 Tablespoon lime zest
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, microplaned or finely minced
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- salt & pepper
Directions
- Bring water to a boil in a medium-sized saucepan. Add quinoa, place a lid on top and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until quinoa is tender. Pour into a large bowl and allow to cool. Once cool, add in kiwi, mango, tomatoes, red onion and cilantro.
- Combine all ingredients for the vinaigrette together and pour over the quinoa, fruits and vegetables. Mix to combine. Season with more salt & pepper to taste.
Notes
Slightly adapted from Inspired Edibles
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
The textures and flavors in this salad are out of this world – crunchy, creamy, sweet, and above all – FRESH!
Filling yet light at the same time, I can see myself making big batches of this all summer, for easy lunches on the go all week long.
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Does your roommate or spouse have any “fun” quirky habits you didn’t know about until you moved in together?
Lisa @ Life in Green 02.28.2012
I couldn’t get past the ‘furry’ texture of the skin. But thanks for the spoon tip…I’ll have to try it next time.
Lauren 02.28.2012
I’m with Ben on that one. I definitely eat the skin of the kiwi, mainly because I’m too lazy to peel them. :)
Lindsay @ The Reluctant Runner 02.28.2012
Gah! I cringe at the thought of eating kiwi skin. I’ve heard that people do it, but I just don’t understand. It seems like it would scratch your mouth and throat all up! I like to slice a kiwi in half and then scoop out the fruit with a spoon!
Allison 02.28.2012
Love.love.LOVE Quinoa! We buy it in the 4lb bag at Costco too. This Kiwi Mango Salad is so colorful and I’m sure a light treat. I love all the quinoa recipes! Keep’em coming!
My husbands funny little quirky habit was eating with his head down and at FULL speed! He grew up a military brat and was in the Army so he learned to eat in 2.5 seconds. Thankfully over the last 11 years I’ve been able to slowly break him of that bad habit. Breath. Taste. Enjoy.
Erin 02.28.2012
I 100% do the exact same thing with my workout clothes every day — so glad to know I’m not the only one! I hate to put them in the laundry when they’re wet, they need to air out first obviously. . .
Tracy @ Tracy's Treats 02.28.2012
That salad looks so beautiful and vibrant! I do the exact same thing with my sweaty workout clothes…gotta air them out. Oh, and it boggles my mind that Ben can eat the skin of kiwis. It’s so rough!
Hannah 02.28.2012
I eat the skin on the kiwi too. But I defuzz it first by giving it a good scrub under running water. It has tons of vitamins and makes it easy. My husband also finds this disgusting.
Leslie 02.28.2012
DO you think this would be tasty with some lime-marinating chicken strips on top? Hmm…
Cait @ Cait Hates Cake 02.28.2012
Yeah, no way will I eat the skin on a kiwi, it’s like fur! And I’m totally the one with more quirky (aka. annoying) habits, my poor boyfriend ;)
Mollie 02.28.2012
ahahahah I hang my sportsbra to dry on doorknobs all around my house! anddd this looks so good/so refreshing!
Lindsey 02.28.2012
My husband is such a messy sleeper! If I’m in bed alone, it’s easy to make in the morning & you can barely tell I was there. After he sleeps in it the blankets are everywhere! Un-tucked… crooked… pillows on the floor!!
Eating the skin of a kiwi makes me cringe! :)
Olivia 02.28.2012
I love quinoa and love making salads out of it (and couscous as well) with lemon juice, dried cranberry, cayenne pepper, and cinnamon.
Stephanie @ On the Road to RD 02.28.2012
Talk about eating a rainbow! You’re recipes are genius!
Presley (Run Pretty) 02.28.2012
I thought my husband was the only one to pull the hidden sock trick (except he also does that with his underwear)! He says it’s too keep it from the dog. Yeahhh… Right.
Candy 02.28.2012
Need to ask because I’m desperate – what brand strainer do you use for your quinoa? I’ve purchased two and even though they say “fine mesh” I lose so much through the holes! I have another one in my Amazon cart right now, but this was a good time to ask another quinoa fanatic ;)
Iowa Girl Eats 02.28.2012
I actually just bought one from the baking aisle at the grocery store for like $2.99!
Lauren O 02.28.2012
My favorite way to eat kiwi is to cut it in half width-wise and eat it with a spoon, like grapefruit! No peeling required :)
Brittney 02.28.2012
My fiance refuses to “pull forward” in parking spots– which I do at any chance I get because it makes it so much easier to leave. If there’s an open space immediately in front of the one he’s found, he refuses to park there because he “likes backing out.” Just pull forward so you can drive right out once you get back to your car!!
kathleen @ the daily crumb 02.28.2012
this is absolutely beautiful and looks positively delicious!
i have definitely heard of people eating the kiwi skin. i, for one, cannot imagine it, but i have a girlfriend who swears it’s yummy! to each her own :)
Jenna 02.28.2012
So funny! My husband eats kiwi with the skin on too. Totally grosses me out! I’ve never seen anyone else do that.
The salad looks so good. Can’t wait to try.
Blog is the New Black 02.28.2012
Looks super tasty and refreshing! I’ve been making a lot of quinoa and couscous concoctions lately!