Recipe: Quinoa Power Salad

I love creating salads in the summer. We live in the water and outside during the summer months and many nights don’t feel like heating up the kitchen at the stove or with the oven. Making this salad in the morning and then not having to do a thing for dinner is just the BEST! This salad is a meal in itself or could be a great side dish with some grilled fish or shrimp (or chicken, burgers or steak if that is your thing 😉 )

Also, you can add all of your favorite fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. This salad is a method and you can change the ingredients based on what is fresh and in-season. It is absolutely delicious and something you will want to keep on hand all summer long in your refrigerator. This is also PERFECT for a picnic, cookout or party over the long 4th of July weekend.

This salad has protein, healthy fats and superfoods and will give you all the energy you need to power through these wonderful summer days.

I used sprouted quinoa in this salad. Quinoa is a pretty spectacular grain because of its great protein profile which is not typical of many carbohydrates and it is gluten free.  Sprouted quinoa is actually more nutritious because it decreases the level of phytic acid (which can block the absorption of key nutrients and is found in grains) and creates a more digestible grain.

Quinoa Power Salad

• 3 cups cooked sprouted quinoa, cooled
• 4 cups spinach, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced thin
• 3/4 cup english cucumber, quartered and sliced
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1/3 cup raw walnuts, rough chopped
• 1/3 cup raw cashews, rough chopped
• 1/2 cup dried cherries
• 2 Tbsp. basil and mint, chopped
• 2 Tbsp. chia seeds
• 2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (omit if vegan or have dairy sensitivities)
• 3/4 cup yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2-3/4 cup Annie’s Naturals organic balsamic vinaigrette

Directions: Mix everything in a bowl and toss to coat with the vinaigrette. So. Easy.

Put your stamp on this salad- use the ingredients that you love. Make meal time fun, exciting and delicious!

Have a happy and safe 4th of July and thank you so much for checking out my latest recipe

xx