Fresh spinach and quinoa salad

Prepare the quinoa first – it should be rinsed thoroughly in a fine strainer (or soaked in water for 10 minutes), to take out the slightly bitter coating. Add the quinoa to 2 cups of boiling water, cover and let simmer over medium to low heat for 15 minutes, or until the germ separates from the seed. We definitely prefer the quinoa al dente, with a slight bite to it. When it is ready, leave it to slightly cool. Of course, you can just soak the quinoa for 4 to 5 hours, and after a good rinse in lots of running water it will be ready to use, without boiling. Meantime rinse well the spinach leaves. If spinach leaves are a bit bigger, we usually cut them into stripes. Fresh spinach and quinoa saladBlend together olive oil, lemon juice and salt. If you decide to use garlic, mix it with the dressing ingredients. When quinoa is cooled, adds spinach and crushed walnuts mix well and pour over the dressing. Serve sprinkled with grated Parmesan or pomegranate arils.