Quinoa, red pepper and cucumber salad with avocado and lime

I got this recipe from The Yoga Journal which I have been reading for a couple of years now.. I love that magazine! This sounded really good and was pretty delicious and filling on a hot summer day so I thought I would share!

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 garlic clove, pounded to as smooth as you can with a dash of sea salt
• 1 large shallot finely diced ( I dice everything in my food processor!)
• 1 jalapeno seeded and finely diced
• 3 1/2 tblsp fresh lime juice (Basically one small lime)
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium red pepper seeded and diced (If you dice this in your food processor, it will become slightly liquidy.. that is not a bad thing just make sure to stop there!)
• 1 medium cucumber diced
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro
• 2-3 ripe avocados

Place 2 cups of water in a pot with the quinoa and bring to a boil.. once it starts to boil, lower heat and allow to simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until the water is gone. Set aside and allow to cool for a couple of hours. This part can also be done the night before and refridgerated.

Put the garlic, shallot, jalapeno, and lime juice in a small bowl. Season wtih salt and stir to combine. Let this sit for about 10 minutes and then add 1/2 cup olive oil and whisk to combine. Put the cooled quinoa, red pepper, cucumber and chopped cilantro in a medium bowl. Drizzle about half of the vinaigrette that you just made on top and gently combine. Slice the avocados and arrange along the sides of the salad and drizzle as much as desired of the vinaigrette on top! Enjoy!!