Quinoa Salad with Pancetta, Tomatoes and Green Onions

It's hot, hot, hot here in Seattle, which is rare. And when it gets hot, I lose my appetite for almost everything except salads.  So tonight, I pulled together some ingredients to create a salad that I really loved. I went to Trader Joe's yesterday, one of my favorite stores and picked up some Red Quinoa and a little package of Pancetta.  I cooked the Quinoa and then added the browned Pancetta and tossed it, while hot, with cut up Tomatoes and Green Onions and a sprinkling of Maldon Sea Salt. Then I cooled it off in fridge for a while and had what I thought was the perfect light meal for a hot night.  

Quinoa Salad with Pancetta, Tomatoes and Green Onions

1 cup Red Quinoa (can also use white or black Quinoa)

2 cups Water

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 ounces cut up Pancetta (can also use Bacon)

2 Large Tomatoes, stem end removed and cut into small pieces

5 small Green Onions (or 3 large) cut into small pieces

Sprinkling of Sea Salt to taste

In a small pot, put in the Olive Oil and heat, add the Quinoa and toast until hot. Add in the water and the salt and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat and cook for 20 minutes. 

While Quinoa is cooking, cook Pancetta in a frying pan until browned and lightly crisped.  Remove from the fat and put on a paper towel-covered plate.

When Quinoa is done, drain the excess water and put the Quinoa into a bowl. Add in the Tomatoes, Sea Salt and Green Onions and toss to mix. Put the Pancetta on top and put into the fridge for about an hour or more.  When ready to serve, toss in the Pancetta.

Five Element Analysis

As Quinoa is a seed, it belongs to the Water Element.  The Pancetta adds even more Water as it is a salted pork product.  The Tomatoes contribute the Fire Element and the Green Onions add a combination of mostly the Metal Element but also some of the Wood Element although to achieve balance, it would be good to serve this with some other green vegetables. And, the Earth Element is missing, so be sure to serve something sweet for dessert.