Quinoa salad with dried tomatoes, sage and tofu

This spicy quinoa salad with dried tomatoes, sage and tofu tastes light and fresh. It is perfect as a side dish or as a main course.

Quinoa: Quinoa, which comes from South America, is a so-called pseudo-cereal, as it is not a cereal from a botanical point of view, but a goosefoot plant. This is why quinoa is gluten-free and is therefore also suitable for people with gluten intolerance. Quinoa contains around 15 percent more protein than other cereals and is ideal for low-carb cooking. For vegetarians and vegans, it is a valuable source of protein away from meat. Since it contains all the amino acids essential for humans, it is considered particularly valuable.

Spiciness of chilis: Chilies, whose family also includes sweet peppers, have very different degrees of spiciness. It is important to note that the smaller ones are not always the hottest.

Basically, the spiciness of a chili pepper decreases from the base of the fruit to the tip. You can also reduce the spiciness by removing the septa and seeds of the chili. This is where most of the capsaicin is found. Some well-known types of chili are (in increasing order of spiciness): pepperoni, sambal, jalapeño chili, cayenne pepper and piri-piri.

Tofu and production: This Asian food, sometimes known colloquially as bean curd, is particularly popular with vegetarians and vegans due to its high protein content. It is also lactose, cholesterol and gluten free.
The first step in making tofu is to extract soy milk. This is made by soaking soybeans in water, then pureeing and cooking them. The latter serves to remove toxins that inhibit digestion. The next step is to curdle the soy milk using coagulants such as calcium sulfate or nigari (in Okinawa, sea water is used for this purpose; the product is known as "island tofu"), which can sometimes separate soy protein components from the rest of the mass. The protein flakes are then pressed into solid tofu blocks, which are then cut into suitable shapes after cooling. The production of tofu blocks differs depending on the type of tofu.

True sage: True sage ( Salvia officinalis) is a medicinal plant whose fresh or dried leaves are used as a medicinal drug. The main active ingredients in sage include essential oils containing thujone, linalool and 1,8-cineole. As a remedy, sage is usually used in the form of a herbal tea, with dissolved ingredients being used to combat digestive problems, excessive sweating and inflammatory diseases of the mouth and throat. Nevertheless, sage should be used in moderation, as the monoterpene ketone "thujone" contained in the essential oil has a toxic effect in higher doses and can cause cramps as well as an increased heart rate. In addition, the consumption of sage tea leads to the milk flow drying up in nursing mothers and is only suitable for weaning in such a situation.

Chili preparation: It is best to wear gloves when handling the chilies, as the spiciness sticks to your hands very well and can lead to unwanted contamination. Especially for people who wear lenses, this can lead to very painful events when removing the lenses, even if 1-2 hours have passed since cooking.

Tofu - possible uses: The manufacturing process of tofu described in the instructions shows that it consists of pressed tofu protein components. Since these are tasteless, unseasoned tofu varieties have practically no taste of their own. This makes it ideal as a carrier of spices and flavors, which explains its diverse uses. In addition to being a component of main dishes, you can also use tofu for desserts. In East Asian cuisine, tofu is often eaten natural or only lightly seasoned.

Canned sweet corn: Canned sweet corn tastes sweet. This is because additives (e.g. sugar or salt) are usually added during production. You should keep this in mind if you use canned corn instead of fresh corn! It is recommended that you rinse the canned kernels with tap water before further processing and then let them drain.

Vegetable variations: You can use other vegetables, such as carrots or zucchini strips, instead of the ingredients listed.