Quinoa Spinach Salad
Have you gotten on the quinoa bandwagon yet? Quinoa Spinach Salad is an excellent way to try it if you haven’t yet. This low carb, nutritious grain is a delightful change of pace to your traditional side dishes. It’s completely versatile and the possibilities are endless. Today I’m sharing how to spruce up your salad with it, plus a super simple home made dressing.
Springtime is upon us, and it seems like we naturally crave healthier foods after a season of comfort food. Salads are the perfect addition to any meal, or they can stand alone. Plus, they’re easy and quick to prepare.
Quinoa is equally quick and easy to make. It only takes 15 minutes to cook. I like to make up a batch and keep it in the fridge for awesome additions to any meal. This breakfast bowl (starring quinoa), is my favorite morning meal right now.
A few words about salad dressing…
I honestly can’t remember the last time I purchased dressing. It is so easy to make. You can make a fabulous flavorful dressing with only a few ingredients. And that’s true for this lemon vinaigrette too. Home made dressing is so much better for you, no preservatives, no unrecognizable ingredients.
The key is to keep your ratio 3 parts oil to one part acid, in this case lemon juice. Your acid could also be balsamic vinegar or another type of vinegar. Add a little honey or maple syrup if you need it sweetened up at all. You can change your ratio to your preferences, but I always start there.
Ready to get cooking?
{Note from Carrie: This is TOTALLY 21 Day Fix compliant, you guys! Just use the appropriate containers when putting this together – if I were making it, it would be 2 green, 1 (or 2, depending on sie) purple, 1 yellow, and 4 teaspoons (or, 1 orange, depending on how you calculate the dressing}.
Ingredients
- fresh spinach
- prepared quinoa
- orange
- strawberries
- apple
- blackberries
- fresh squeezed lemon juice
- olive oil
- fresh basil
- salt and pepper to taste
3 easy steps
- Make the salad~ wash the spinach and the fruit. Cut the fruit into bite size pieces. Place it all in a bowl and sprinkle with the cooked Quinoa.
- Make the dressing~ squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into a small mason jar. Add olive oil and sliced fresh basil, and a little salt and pepper. Put the lid on the jar and shake well until blended.
- Put it all together~Toss the salad in the dressing and serve immediately!
Spinach Quinoa Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 orange sliced
- 1/2 cups strawberries sliced
- 1/4 cup blackberries
- 1 apple diced
- 1/2 cup prepared quinoa
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh basil sliced into strips
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Assemble the ingredients for the salad.
- Sprinkle with prepared quinoa
- For the dressing, combine olive oil, lemon juice and fresh basil into a small mason jar.
- Cover and shake until well combined.
- Toss the salad with some dressing and serve.
Looking for more quinoa recipes?
Be sure to pin for later!
Look yummy. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Pinned & shared.
Thanks Theresa!!
I’m not fully on the quinoa bandwagon yet, so I love how this salad doesn’t go overboard with it. And all that fresh fruit looks amazing!
I’d love to have you link up at The Alder Collective Link Party! http://bit.ly/1LYB1Zn
Doesn’t it look great? I like quinoa in small amounts too.
Oh my goodness, this looks so good!!!! I especially your food-tography 🙂 totally pinning, have a great day! xo
Thanks Jess! It was just the perfect blend. loved it!
I have been seeing lots of salads made with couscous lately and yours with quinoa looks so refreshing with the strawberries.
I just wanted to stop by and let you know that your post has been Featured on
Oh My Heartsie Girls Friday Features this week.
And now, I would like to invite you to stop by and at what you have going on this week!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Karren
Thank you so much Karen! An honor to be featured!!
Looks delicious. I looove quinoa salads and spinach is my go-to green, so this will definitely be going into my “try it” binder! ASAP!
I’m a big fan of spinach too. Can’t wait to hear how you like it!
Thanks for sharing. I love this idea and I think my daughter will be happy to see them.