Diabetic-Friendly Recipe: Quinoa Salad With Chickpeas, Eggplant & Feta

Living with diabetes can be a challenge.  However, having healthy and easy recipes at hand can make it easier.

Here are a few guidelines for you to manage diabetes:

Eat regularly throughout the day

• Schedule healthy snacks between meals.
• Eat just until you are satisfied – avoid overeating.

Choose quality carbohydrates which are high in fibre and low in GI

• Choose foods such as whole grains which are high in fibre.
• Fruits and vegetables are also high in fibre.
• Avoid white pastas and bread which are significantly lower in nutrients and fibre than their wholemeal counterpart.

Fill up on vegetables – half your plate should be filled with healthy vegetables

• Include a salad with your lunch and dinner.
• Snack on vegetables.

Reduce saturated fat

• Choose lean meat.
• Choose fish.
• Limit pastry and fried foods.

Control your weight

• Don’t overeat.
• Be active.

Quinoa salad with chickpeas, roasted eggplant and feta recipe

Ingredients

• 1 eggplant, cut into cubes
• 2 red onions, cut into thin wedges
• 1 large zucchini, sliced
• 1 punnet small cherry tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 cup Quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 400g can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly torn plus extra to serve
• 50g feta
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar, to drizzle

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. Line a large baking tray with baking paper and place the eggplant, onion and zucchini on the tray. Sprinkle with olive oil and season with pepper, roast for 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes to the tray and roast for a further 10 minutes or until the vegetables are golden and tender.
3. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and cumin for 30 seconds or until aromatic.
4. Add the quinoa and water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 12 minutes or until the quinoa is tender and the water has absorbed. Set aside to cool slightly.
5. Toss together the quinoa, roast vegetables, chickpeas, basil and feta in a large bowl. Divide among bowls and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and vinegar. Top with basil leaves.

_{Image from taste.com.}