Recipe: Vegan Lentil Quinoa Protein Power Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of dry quinoa
• 1 cup of green lentils
• 2 cups of chopped kale
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup of chopped cucumber
• 2 avocados, diced
• 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup of lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Rinse the quinoa and lentils under cold water. In separate pots, boil the lentils and quinoa following their respective package instructions.
2. Drain lentils and quinoa and allow to cool.
3. In a large bowl, combine cooled lentils, quinoa, chopped kale, diced bell pepper, chopped cucumber, and diced avocado.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper to create the dressing.
5. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to combine all the ingredients.
6. Top the salad with sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

Nutritional Information per serving (4 servings total):

• Calories: 460
• Protein: 24g
• Fat: 20g
• Carbs: 20g

Plating:

Place your Vegan Lentil Quinoa Protein Power Salad in the center of a bright, clean white plate for a beautiful color contrast from the varied hues of green, red, and white from the salad. Top it off with a sprinkle of sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, providing a delightful crunch and adding a playful aesthetic with their lovely seeds scattered across the top. Then drizzle a little extra dressing around the plate edge. Each colorful, varied bite is visually appealing, tantalizing the senses while providing a nutritionally balanced meal.