Red, White and Blueberry Quinoa Salad

by Beth Heiserman

 

This coming Saturday is our memorial weekend hike. Every month the brunch is seasonal. This week it is Red, white and Blue inspired.   First, I chose the food and then paired the wines. I will be featuring classic comfort foods with a twist and some of our favorite wines. Red, white and blue or I should say blueberry can be very inspirational.

I will have a “Red, White, and Blueberry Quinoa salad”. Quinoa is always a favorite when I serve it. Also, on the menu, are other brunch favorites like the Chicken Sausage Hash browns, granola, yogurt, deviled eggs with a Rosé Dijon mustard, citrus coffee cake (the recipe was featured last week), blueberry sticky rolls, a puffed pancake, French toast and many other dishes.

The wines that I will be featuring are, 2013 Renaissance by Reyes Sauvignon Blanc, 2016 Rosé of Merlot, 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2010 Merlot. When I think of Strawberries, blueberries and apple for the red, white and blue, I think of these wines.

The 2013 Renaissance by Reyes Sauvignon Blanc has won a bronze in the 2016 Los Angeles International Wine Competition and received 82 points from the Wine Enthusiast Magazine (05/2018 Edition). This wine has aroma s of crisp citrus, green apple with slight floral notes. On the palate, you get a hint of honeydew melon and granny smith apples. This fruit forward wine can be appreciated alone or with food. It can be paired with many dishes from goat cheese to Sushi. I think the Red, White, and Blueberry Quinoa salad is a perfect match.

 

Ingredients

For the Salad:

• 1 cup dry quinoa
• 16 ounces fresh strawberries, sliced
• 9 ounces fresh blueberries
• 2 granny smith apples, chopped
• ½ cup red onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• ¼ cup 2013 Renaissance by Reyes Sauvignon Blanc
• ½ cup toasted sliced almonds (I used the honey roasted)
• ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, julienned

For the Dressing:

• 2 tablespoons honey, (I used blueberry honey-it is lighter)
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• ¼ teaspoon salt, kosher
• ½ teaspoon pepper (I used a pepper mill)

Instructions

1. Sauté red onion in a 3 ½ quart Dutch oven, let cook for 5-10 minutes until soft, them add 2013 Renaissance by Reyes Sauvignon Blanc.
2. Add 2 cups of water to pot and boil.
3. Add quinoa and reduce the heat to a simmer and cover
4. Cook for 15-20 minutes.
5. Turn off heat but keep it on the stove.
6. I use a 2-cup measuring cup to stir together the dressing ingredients; honey, lime juice, salt and pepper.
7. Prepare all the fruit and mint.
8. Combine with the quinoa.
9. Add the almonds and mint.
10. Pour the dressing over the top, then toss gently to combine.
11. Serve with 2013 Renaissance by Reyes Sauvignon Blanc.