Summer Citrus Quinoa Bowl

*Alright…. so this was a super last minute meal that I threw together in about 10 minutes after getting home from working out. I literally have limited items in my refrigerator at the moment, since I haven’t had a chance to make it to the grocery store (hoping tomorrow is the day!!). Luckily I had just enough zucchini and had already made some quinoa earlier in the week so I was all set to throw this together. This dish is a great alternative to something heavier like pasta and will make for a very refreshing meal on those hot summer days!

Quinoa is such a versatile grain and the chickpeas add a bit of protein to this meal! It’s nice to have quinoa already cooked in the fridge when you need to simply throw together something last minute for a meal, just like this dish! Fresh cilantro works best with this, but whatever you have on hand will work just fine! You can also add dried dates or figs in place of the cranberries. If you find yourself out of honey, use a natural (pure) maple syrup instead!  

Ingredients: 

• 2 Whole Zucchinis  
• 1 cup cooked and chilled quinoa
• 1/2 cup Garbanzo Beans (a.k.a CHICKPEAS)
• 3 Parts Olive Oil (about 1/4 cup)
• 1 Part Dijon Mustard (about 1 tbsp)
• 1 Part Honey (about 1 tbsp) 
• Juice of 1 Lemon
• Juice of 1 Orange (Use half if it’s large) 
• Cilantro (fresh or freeze-dried)  
• Sesame Seeds 
• Dried Cranberries
• Fresh Ground Pepper

Directions:

1. Cook your quinoa as directed on the package. Once the quinoa is cooked make sure to put it in the refrigerator to chill for at least an hour. 
2. Mix your ingredients together for the dressing while you the quinoa chills. Using a mason jar, add the olive oil, lemon and orange juice, dijon mustard, honey, and a few good sprinkles of cilantro and pepper. Shake it up!! Throw it in the fridge until everything else is ready to go! 
3. Quickly spiralize your zucchini and put aside. 
4. In a large bowl, add the zucchini noodles, chickpeas, and quinoa. Add the dressing and toss until well combined. If you need more dressing, whip up another batch and add a little at a time! Add another few sprinkles of cilantro and a few good dollops of dried cranberries and sesame seeds and toss again. Serve and enjoy!