Quinoa Spinach and Raspberry Salad

If you have visited my About page, you read that I am trying to adopt a healthier diet.  Well, my first post, Cornish Pasties isn’t exactly ‘healthy’. Delicious? Yes. Healthy?…  Meh.  Sure, it was prepared from scratch (for the most part) but the recipe does contain ingredients that I am trying to cut back on. Approximately 90% of the foods I am eating are meat, gluten and refined sugar free.  Here is an example of a ‘super foods’ recipe that satisfies my healthy cravings.  I came up with this recipe when I was enjoying a container of Raley’s deli quinoa salad.  I have infused my favorite Raspberry Spinach Salad recipe with Trader Joe’s tri-color quinoa, and I must say, they make a perfect mix!

Quinoa Spinach and Raspberry Salad

Ginger

Spinach salad with raspberry vinaigrette, paired with quinoa to create a wonderful blend of super foods.

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Ingredients

  

Ingredients for Salad

• 1 cup tri-color or any quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. sliced green onion
• 1- 11 oz. can mandarin oranges drained (or four fresh, peeled and sectioned)
• 4 oz. baby spinach use half of an 8 oz. bag, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 2/3 cup fresh raspberries strawberries work too
• handful of cilantro or parsley chopped, for garnish

Ingredients for Raspberry Vinaigrette dressing

• 1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 3 Tbsp. raspberry jam I like it with seeds
• 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp. agave syrup or sugar
• dash of salt and pepper

Instructions

 

Directions for Quinoa

• Rinse quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer. Bring water to a boil in medium saucepan. Stir in quinoa and salt. Reduce heat; cover. Simmer 10 to 15 minutes or until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Transfer to bowl. Cool to room temperature. While quinoa is simmering, chop salad ingredients and set aside.

Directions for Vinaigrette

• Pour all of the vinaigrette ingredients in a small container or jar with a tight fitting lid. Give the jar a really good shake to mix well.

Directions for Salad Assembly

• Combine cooked, cooled quinoa with all other salad ingredients, except raspberries and parsley/cilantro. Pour vinaigrette over the top and stir gently to combine. Serve on individual plates (or in bowls) and top each with a handful of raspberries and garnish with parsley or cilantro.