Recipe Category: Meal Side Dish
Recipe Name: Fruity Quinoa Salad
Servings: 6-8

1 c. dry quinoa
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
15 oz. can Del Monte Canned Peach Chunks, drained
1 c. fresh baby spinach leaves
½ c. sweetened, dried cranberries
1/3 c. toasted pecans, rough chopped

Dressing: 15 oz. can Del Monte Lite Apricot Halves

Steps:

1. Cook quinoa according to package directions.
2. Once cooked, place in a large bowl to cool for a few minutes.
3. Add the black beans, peach chunks, baby spinach, dried cranberries, and pecans to the bowl and mix lightly.
4. In a food processor, add the apricots and juice. Process until smooth.
5. Pour the apricot dressing over the salad ingredients and stir. Serve.

“I love to put fruit in my food; it gives it a great fresh and sweet taste.” -- Matt

Matt Bernards of Yamhill-Carlton Intermediate School, Yamhill, OR., submitted his "Fruity Quinoa Salad" side dish recipe combining a trendy, new whole grain and fruit with creative ingredients. Matt has entered recipe contests in 4-H, county and state fairs, but this contest required healthy recipe ingredients and challenged him to consider healthy lifestyle changes. "I played basketball this year and I'm trying track. I'm eating healthier... getting stronger and feeling better. I'm going to keep this up!"