Blackened Green Bean and Quinoa Salad

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed under running water in a fine mesh colander for a couple of minutes
• 1 pound long green beans, aka haricots verts (roughly 3 cups)
• salt and pepper
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 medium red onion, sliced into very thin strips
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
• 2 corn on the cobs, stripped
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 to 2 small lemons, juiced
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
• sea salt and black pepper
• 1/3 cup slivered almonds (highly recommended)
• crumbled feta (optional)