Green Bean Salad With Black Quinoa

To make dressing, you'll need:

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons White balsamic vinegar

2 teaspoons honey or agave nectar

1 clove fresh garlic, minced

one handful of basil Leaves

salt and pepper, to taste

To make salad, you'll need:

1/2 Cup black quinoa

1 pound green beans, trimmed

2 green onions

1/2 Cup hazelnuts, skinned, toasted, and roughly chopped

Blend all dressing ingredients together in a food processor or blender.

Season with salt and pepper as needed and refrigerate.

Bring 1 cup water to a boil and add quinoa. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer, for about 20 minutes until all liquid is absorbed. Transfer to a large mixing bowl to cool.

Steam or blanch green beans until just barely soft. Drain well and add green beans to cooled quinoa.

Slice scallions thinly and add with half of the chopped hazelnuts.

Toss with desired amount of dressing and season with fresh ground black pepper along with the rest of the hazelnuts.

Makes four to six servings.