Quinoa Salad with Dried Fruits and Pine Nuts

Quinoa is an ancient grain from the Andes that has recently been introduced as the “superfood”—it has more protein, and higher-quality protein, than any other grain. The tiny seeds are very light and digestible. Here they are mixed with dried apricots, currants, golden peppers, chives, and roasted pine nuts, all finely cut to match the diminutive size of the quinoa. This makes a lovely salad to cup in a leaf of lettuce, and leftover salad can be used to fill a grape leaf or a leaf of blanch