Charlotte Veggie

Fruit & Nut Quinoa Salad

Including fruits, veggies, nuts, and the complete protein powerhouse seed known as quinoa, this salad can be served as the main attraction, lunch box feature, or enhancing side.

IMG_5507

I made this recipe as part of my Sunday weekly meal prep. I don’t always accomplish meal prep but school starting back up tomorrow put me in the mood!

IMG_5506

A change from my usual quinoa salad which contains more traditional salad vegetables, this one was more simple yet just as satisfying. I can imagine eating it for breakfast, snack, lunch, or as a side with dinner.

IMG_5510

I had this for dinner post-vacation with rice crackers and Cool And Creamy Chickpea Salad – click for that recipe here!

IMG_5514

For a hot dish, check out my Quinoa Primavera Puttanesca here.

Fruit & Nut Quinoa Salad

Charlotte Veggie

GF, GRF, DF

6 servings

 

Ingredients:

1 cup dry quinoa

2 cups water

1 tsp coconut oil

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

3 stalks celery, rinsed, ends cut off, and finely diced

2 tbsp finely diced red onion

2 tbsp slivered almonds (could also use other nuts or seeds i.e. pine nuts, hemp seeds)

2 tbsp dried cranberries

1/2 tsp sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

 

Directions:

Cooking quinoa: Rinse quinoa and drain. Heat coconut oil in a pot over medium heat for a minute. Add in quinoa, stir to coat with the oil, and allow to toast for a minute. Add in the water, bring to a boil, then cover with a lid, turn heat down, and simmer for 15 minutes. Uncover, fluff with a fork, and put in a wide bowl to cool.

Once cooled to room temperature, stir in remaining ingredients.

Refrigerate up to one week.

IMG_5513

 

Random side note: These are the olives that converted me into an olive eater!

Recent Posts…

Warm Moroccan Style Quinoa With Raw Zucchini Ribbon Salad

Warm Moroccan Style Quinoa With Raw Zucchini Ribbon Salad

We are loving the fall weather but sometimes it is hard to decide what to eat when temps have been wavering between 40s and 80s! I wanted something soft, spiced, and warming but also cold and crisp. That is how this dinner was born. While my quinoa cooked, I chopped up some vegetables and essentially made a curry. [...]

{ 0 comments }
Pre-Thanksgiving:  Cran-apple Cinnamon Smoothie

Pre-Thanksgiving: Cran-apple Cinnamon Smoothie

Although cranberries come to mind in the fall, I appreciate using the frozen and dried form year round. As well as known benefits for the urinary system, cranberries tout antioxidants and I appreciate the tarter profile as well as low glycemic index. Even natural sugars can cause glucose overload and make smoothies high calorie as [...]

{ 0 comments }
Slow Cooker Chana Masala (Indian chickpea curry)

Slow Cooker Chana Masala (Indian chickpea curry)

I’ve been receiving requests for Indian food recipes and this one requires no culinary expertise. The gravy drowning the chickpeas is light but full of spices making a totally mouthwatering experience. On a day that I was scheduled to work at the hospital and knew it was going to be a long day, I developed this recipe. [...]

{ 4 comments }