If you haven’t tried quinoa, you should! This is one of my favorite quinoa salads. Although quinoa isn’t a grain, you can use it to replace grains in many dishes. It’s actually the seed of the Goosefoot plant and is widely cultivated and used in South America. The great thing about quinoa is that, unlike most grains, it’s full of protein. So it’s also a great vegetarian option. Besides making great salad, quinoa is also great as a side dish, as well as in soups.
This salad is great for taking to lunch at the office. I like to keep the toasted almonds separate and add them just before serving, so they stay nice and crunchy. For an even heartier version, try adding some cooked, shredded chicken.
Apricot, Almond and Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
- 1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil and add quinoa. Cook for 15-20 minutes over medium low heat until water is evaporated and quinoa is tender. Allow quinoa to cool, then combine with apricots, almonds and chives.
- Combine olive oil, vinegar, mustard and sugar in a small bowl. Stir dressing mixture into quinoa mixture. Chill at least 30 minutes before serving.
Who Dished It Up First: Adapted from Mother Rimmy’s Cooking Light Done Right.
Danielle
I love quinoa – this sounds light and refreshing
Jennifurla
This looks fab, I have still had no luck making quinoa
Rachel Leisure
I’ve made it successfully in my rice cooker, no attention required
Kristy {Sweet Treats and More}
Yum, I’ve been looking for a fruity quinoa salad to try. looks great!
itsthecookiemonster
i love quinoa!!! it’s a total superfood, its a complete protein and it’s not even a meat product
scrambledhenfruit
This quinoa salad looks good- I love the crunchy almonds in it. 🙂
danasfoodforthought
This sounds delicious… I bet it would be a hit as a side at a summer BBQ!
TheIronYou
This recipe looks unbelievable, I’m gonna try it really soon.
I recently wrote an article on the health benefits of quinoa, check it out.
http://www.theironyou.com/2011/03/more-on-quinoa.html
Peace
Mike @TheIronYou
kaliskier
I added dried cranberries to this. It was delicious. Love quinoa.
Marilyn Kroenke
Every week we have a pot luck at my knitting group. This salad is my weekly contribution and it is delicious!