Quinoa salad with mackerel, halloumi, avocado and walnuts

Happy New Year everyone! Like most others, my goal for 2014 (or at least January) is to eat more healthy food. But I will never, ever compromise on taste and these January recipes will hopefully help all of you eat a bit better while still enjoying all the glorious sensations that come with good food.

This quinoa salad is a great example. Quinoa is gluten-free, very healthy and is lower in carbs than rice. It also happens to taste phenomenal, which is the reason why I eat it! Make sure to always boil it in stock, else it will lack flavour. It can go with pretty much anything – I’ve made it with sweet potato and aubergine before, last night I mixed it up with some chicken and green beans, but today I wanted to make a nice refreshing lunch for myself and my flatmate as our first meal together in 2014. It was so good!

Prep time: 20 minutes

Serves 3 people

• 150g quinoa
• 1/2 vegetable stock cube
• 1 carrot, peeled and diced
• 1 avocado, cubed
• 100g halloumi, diced
• 2 boneless smoked mackerel fillets, shredded
• 5 tbsp walnut pieces
• Lemon juice and pepper, to taste

Boil the quinoa according to packet instructions with the stock (usually 2:1 and takes around 15 minutes). Dry fry the halloumi (so without oil) over high heat, stirring rapidly – halloumi has a tendency to look very uncooked and suddenly turn golden within 2 seconds, so keep an eye on it! As soon as it turns golden, take it off the heat and add to the big bowl below.

In a large bowl, mix the carrot, avocado, mackerel and walnut. Once the halloumi and quinoa are done, add them and mix it all up so you have a sea of colour. Stir in some lemon juice and black pepper and serve! You can eat it on its own or with some bread – your choice.

Happy New Year!