Apple and Spinach Quinoa Salad
21 Day Fix Approved
Container Counts: 2 Green, 1 Yellow, 1.5 Purple, 1.5 Blue, 1 Orange
Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
Serves: 3-4**
Dressing Ingredients:
1/4-cup extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1/4-lemon juice
2-tbsp. honey or agave nectar
1 1/2-tsp Dijon mustard
1/4-tsp. sea salt
a dash of freshly ground black pepper
Salad Ingredients:
1/2-cup quinoa, dry
4-5 cups fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup raw pecans, chopped
1-large apple, cubed into bite size chunks
1/2 cup dried cranberries (I used Ocean Spray reduced sugar Craisins)
1/2-cup low-fat feta cheese, crumbled
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Directions:
1) Cook quinoa according to package directions (for 1/2 a cup of quinoa, I add it to 1 cup of water and bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat, cooking on low for 10-12 minutes until water is evaporated). Set aside to cool.
2) Make the dressing by whisking together all the ingredients in a bowl or by adding to a glass salad dressing mixer bottle and shaking to mix thoroughly. Refrigerate until needed.
3) Assemble the salad by placing spinach in a large bowl (or smaller bowls if you're looking to take it on-the-go). Add the quinoa, cranberries, raw pecans, and feta cheese. Toss everything to mix together (if in small container, I put cover on and shake it up to mix). Right before serving, toss with dressing and mix thoroughly!
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**For just a one-day meal for two people, I just cut the ingredients in half.
This recipe was SO amazingly good, and was light with a hint of sweet, making it perfect for a hot summer day! It's super fast and easy to throw together, making it an excellent side dish with dinner, or it also makes the perfect meal to make ahead for lunch and take with you on-the-go (I made mine to take to the beach as a healthier option than hotdogs and fries). If you're planning to do such, I suggest making it the night before so that it gets to chill for a while. I made the dressing and assembled the salad the night before so that the morning of,I just had to cut up and add the cubed apple and dressing. I added those two ingredients last minute so that the apple didn't brown and the dressing didn't make the spinach soggy-it worked perfectly! A MUST TRY on your menu this summer!
