Description
A refreshing and flavor-packed quinoa apple salad featuring a blend of tricolor quinoa, crisp apples, dried cranberries, celery, fresh parsley, and candied walnuts tossed in a zesty maple-Dijon vinaigrette. This salad offers a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory notes, ideal as a light lunch or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups vegetable broth
- ¾ cup tricolor quinoa, rinsed
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 1 gala apple, diced into ¼-inch cubes
- ¼ cup celery, diced into ¼-inch cubes
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup candied walnuts
Vinaigrette
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook Quinoa and Cranberries: In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable broth and rinsed quinoa to a boil. Stir in the dried cranberries, cover the pan, and remove it from heat. Let the quinoa absorb the liquid and stand for 15 minutes. Once done, fluff the quinoa mixture with a fork and transfer it to a large salad bowl.
- Prepare the Vinaigrette: While the quinoa is resting, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, ground allspice, kosher salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until well combined to make a flavorful vinaigrette.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Add the diced gala apple, celery, chopped fresh parsley, and candied walnuts to the bowl with the fluffed quinoa and cranberries. Pour the prepared vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Serve: You can enjoy the salad immediately, or for enhanced flavor, chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Serve the quinoa apple salad cold or at room temperature as a refreshing and nutritious meal or side dish.
Notes
- Rinsing quinoa before cooking removes its natural bitter coating called saponin, which improves flavor.
- Chilling the salad enhances the melding of flavors but it can be served fresh as well.
- Customize the salad by swapping gala apple with other sweet, crisp apple varieties like Fuji or Honeycrisp.
- For added protein, consider tossing in some cooked chickpeas or grilled chicken.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: quinoa salad, apple salad, healthy salad, fruit salad, vegetarian salad, vegan quinoa salad, easy lunch, gluten free
