Quinoa Salad with Seared Tuna

Quinoa is one of our favorite whole-grains because it is gluten-free, loaded with protein and contains all of the essential amino acids. In this recipe, we've paired the quinoa with quickly seared tuna steaks for a delicious main-dish salad that's ready in under an hour.

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Prep Time:
30 mins
Additional Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
50 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
6 servings

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen tuna steaks

  • 1 ½ cups quinoa

  • 3 cups water

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 1 large tomato, chopped

  • 1 cup cucumber, seeded and chopped

  • ½ cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese

  • ¼ cup chopped red onion

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon honey

  • ½ teaspoon snipped fresh oregano or 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

  • Nonstick cooking spray

  • teaspoon salt

  • teaspoon ground black pepper

  • Fresh oregano leaves

Directions

  1. Thaw tuna steaks, if frozen. Rinse quinoa well in a fine mesh sieve. Bring water and 1/4 teaspoon salt to boiling. Add quinoa; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until most of the water is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Drain, if necessary. Spread on a baking sheet to cool slightly.

  2. On a serving platter, combine quinoa, tomato, cucumber, feta cheese and red onion.

  3. In a screw-top jar, combine olive oil, lemon juice, honey, 1/2 teaspoon oregano and pepper. Cover and shake well to combine. Add to quinoa mixture and toss to combine.

  4. Lightly coat a grill pan or large skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle tuna steaks with 1/8 teaspoon salt and the pepper. Cook on grill pan over medium-high heat 4 to 6 minutes per 1/2-inch thickness of fish, turning once or until browned on both sides and fish begins to flake when tested with a fork and center is just pink. Thinly slice tuna steaks and serve atop salad. Garnish with fresh oregano.

Originally appeared: Diabetic Living Magazine

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

316 Calories
11g Fat
31g Carbs
22g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Serving Size 1 cup
Calories 316
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 4g 13%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 22g 44%
Total Fat 11g 15%
Saturated Fat 3g 14%
Cholesterol 25mg 8%
Vitamin A 1630IU 33%
Vitamin C 7mg 8%
Folate 86mcg 22%
Sodium 332mg 14%
Calcium 70mg 5%
Iron 3mg 15%
Magnesium 120mg 29%
Potassium 490mg 10%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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