A quinoa salad bursting at the seams with fresh apples, chewy cranberries, toasted walnuts and the sharp bite of feta cheese. All that is good in this world.
A creamy, toasted walnut dressing made with lemon and olive oil ties these everyday ingredients together to make something extraordinary.
The salad is a cinch to throw together for a tasty and healthy lunch that travels well and makes a great side dish that will steal the show.
So immensely satisfying and delicious with its mix of sweet, tart, salty and savory flavors combined with a multitude of textures to keep your taste buds happy. I could eat it everyday and never tire of it.
Quinoa (KEEN-wah) is considered a grain even though it’s the seeds we eat. High in protein and fiber, it’s a little pricey but worth every cent. I compare it’s texture and taste to couscous and use the two interchangeably, although quinoa is the nutritional powerhouse of the two. Quinoa has a bitter outer coating that must be rinsed well before cooking, unless it says pre-washed on the package.
A quinoa salad bursting at the seams with fresh apples, chewy cranberries, toasted walnuts and the sharp bite of feta cheese with a toasted walnut dressing.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a small skillet over medium heat toast walnuts about 5 minutes stirring often. Remove and allow to cool. Add olive oil, 1/3 cup of the toasted walnuts and lemon juice to a food processor. Pulse until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl combine quinoa, apples, cranberries, feta cheese, green onions and the remaining walnuts. Pour dressing over top and stir well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Best eaten at room temperature.
Notes
-This is lightly dressed, if you like a lot of dressing double the recipe.
-Substitute a different cooked grain or couscous for the quinoa.
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This is fantastic. I really like quinoa and always am happy to find new recipes to try. bookmarked this one. :)
I am trying to eat more grains. This is perfect.
What a beautiful combination of flavors and textures! I am sure I could eat this all day long as well :)
I adore salads with no lettuce! :) I’ve only made a quinoa salad once and stuck with the normal salad ingredients. What a great idea to make it rather like a Waldorf Salad with apples and walnuts.
I am on a diet currently so any ideas for salads are more than welcomed! This one looks delicious and very nutritional Reeni!