Adding a healthy salad is one of my favorite ways to round out a dinner menu. To keep the flavors fresh and interesting, I’m always trying new combinations of greens, dressings, and toppings on our salads. It’s not very often that we add quinoa to our green salads, but after making this Spinach and Quinoa Salad with Apple, that is going to change! We love the way the quinoa gets all happily mixed up with the spinach, and the way it coats the little bites of goat cheese… incredible!
This salad is packed with flavors and textures. We’ve got sweet-tart apple slices and cranberries, creamy goat cheese, and toasted pecans. We’re tossing it all in a bright and tangy homemade honey-lemon vinaigrette. The quinoa will absorb a bit of the dressing, soaking up delicious flavor along the way. Yum! Adding quinoa to this salad makes it more substantial and filling, since quinoa is a high-protein grain. If you enjoy eating salads for lunch, this one is a great option. You can even make it a day or two ahead. Wait until right before serving to add the dressing to keep the salad crisp and fresh. You can keep the apple slices fresh for a few days by tossing them with a little bit of lemon juice.
My family loves this salad so much that I make it often for many family gatherings. The entire salad disappears quickly! Luckily this spinach and quinoa salad is fast and easy to make. Prepping foods ahead is one of my tricks for making healthy eating happen on a daily basis. If I’m planning to make this salad during the week, for example, on the weekend I’ll cook a batch of quinoa and toast some pecans. Taking a few minutes to prep foods on the weekend makes a world of difference when it comes to getting healthy meals on the table during a busy week! This salad is my way to transition into fall, while still holding on to summer. We’re beginning to think about fall flavors, but still want light and fresh foods while warm days linger. We eat apples year-round, and we’ll be making this Spinach and Quinoa Salad with Apple no matter the season. It’s too good to save just for fall!
Here are a few more salad recipes you might enjoy:
Waldorf Salad Pineapple Crunch Salad Spinach Salad with Hot Prosciutto Dressing Arugula, Berry and Goat Cheese Salad BLT Corn Salad
