Quinoa Apple Salad Recipe
A refreshing and nutritious Quinoa Apple Salad combining fluffy cooked quinoa, crisp apples, crunchy nuts, and sweet dried fruit, all tossed in a light vinaigrette. Perfect as a light lunch or side dish, this salad offers a delightful balance of flavors and textures with minimal preparation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (for cooking quinoa)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 1 large apple, cored and chopped
- 1/4 cup mixed nuts (such as walnuts and pecans), roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup dried fruit (such as cranberries or raisins)
Vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the quinoa: If not already cooked, rinse 1/3 cup dry quinoa under cold water and cook according to package instructions to yield about 1 cup cooked quinoa. Allow it to cool completely.
- Mix the salad ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooled cooked quinoa, chopped apples, mixed nuts, and dried fruit.
- Make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), salt, and black pepper until well combined and emulsified.
- Toss the salad: Pour the vinaigrette over the quinoa mixture and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Chill before serving: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld and serve chilled for best taste.
Notes
- Use crisp apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and flavor.
- Feel free to substitute nuts and dried fruit based on preference or availability.
- For added freshness, consider adding chopped fresh herbs such as mint or parsley.
- This salad can be prepared a few hours ahead and stored refrigerated, but best consumed within 24 hours for optimal texture.
Keywords: quinoa salad, apple salad, healthy salad recipe, vegetarian salad, easy quinoa salad
Find it online: https://cookwithyana.com/quinoa-apple-salad-recipe/
