Powerhouse Quinoa Salad (Vegan + Gluten-Free)
This healthy quinoa salad is PACKED with superfood nutrients and flavor. It's the perfect healthy meal prep lunch! (Bonus? It's also gluten-free + vegan)
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Servings: 7 cups
Calories: 291kcal
Ingredients
For The Powerhouse Quinoa Salad:
- 3 cups cooked cooled quinoa (Made from 1 cup dry quinoa + 2 cups water)*
- 1 small green apple cored and diced
- 1 small Honeycrisp apple or another red apple, cored and diced
- 1-2 cups loosely packed spinach leaves torn or roughly chopped
- 2-3 stalks celery sliced
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries or dried cherries
- 1/2 cup toasted pecans or walnuts chopped
- Optional: feta or cotija cheese to sprinkle
For The Balsamic Dressing:
- 4 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 Tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup can sub honey if not vegan
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
Instructions
- Combine Salad Ingredients. In a large bowl, combine cooked and cooled quinoa, apples, celery, spinach leaves, cranberries, walnuts, (and cheese, if using).
- Make Dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together mustard, honey, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. (Dressing will keep 1 week in the refrigerator.)
- Dress Salad. Add half of the dressing to the salad and stir to combine.
- Taste & Adjust. Then, taste and add additional dressing, as desired. (If I'm making the salad in advance, I like to add the rest of the dressing right before serving, since the salad will continue to absorb dressing in the fridge.)
- Serve & Store. Enjoy right away or chill in an airtight container in the fridge 3-4 days.
Notes
- How To Prepare the Quinoa. Rinse quinoa in a fine mesh sieve. Add 1 cup rinsed quinoa and 2 cups of water to a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil 5 minutes. Turn off heat and let steam 15 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed. Let cool.
- Pump Up The Protein. Feel free to mix in a can of chickpeas, a little feta cheese, or some cooked chicken!
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Nutrition
Serving: 1Heaping Cup (made with 1/2 the dressing) | Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 5.5g | Fat: 12.1g | Saturated Fat: 1.3g | Sodium: 180.3mg | Potassium: 392.5mg | Fiber: 5.6g | Sugar: 19.5g | Vitamin C: -14mg | Calcium: 47.8mg
Nutrition facts are an estimate only and will vary based on brands and amounts used.
Find it Online:
https://www.onelovelylife.com/powerhouse-quinoa-salad/