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Quinoa Spinach Power Salad served in a rustic ceramic bowl, featuring fresh spinach, diced tomatoes, cucumbers, and dried cranberries.
Layla

Quinoa Spinach Power Salad

A protein-packed, vibrant salad that comes together in under 30 minutes and keeps you full for hours.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 385

Ingredients
  

For the Quinoa
  • 1 cup quinoa rinsed well
  • 2 cups water
  • 0.5 tsp fine sea salt
For the Salad
  • 5 oz baby spinach about 5 cups packed
  • 15 oz chickpeas 1 can, drained and rinsed
  • 1 English cucumber diced (about 1.5 cups)
  • 0.25 cup red onion finely diced
  • 0.5 cup feta cheese crumbled
  • 0.25 cup toasted pepitas pumpkin seeds
For the Lemon Herb Dressing
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice about 1 lemon
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 0.5 tsp dried oregano
  • 0.25 tsp fine sea salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper freshly ground

Equipment

  • Medium Saucepan with Lid
  • Fine-mesh strainer
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Small jar or bowl for dressing

Method
 

Cook the Quinoa
  1. Rinse quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water for 30 seconds to remove bitterness. Combine rinsed quinoa, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and spread on a plate to cool for 10 minutes.
Make the Dressing
  1. In a small jar or bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Shake or whisk vigorously until emulsified and slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning - the dressing should be bright and tangy.
Assemble the Salad
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled quinoa, baby spinach, chickpeas, diced cucumber, and red onion. The residual warmth from the quinoa will slightly wilt the spinach, which is exactly what you want.
  2. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to coat every ingredient. Fold in the crumbled feta and toasted pepitas. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 3 days - the flavors actually improve as they meld.

Notes

To make this vegan, simply omit the feta or substitute with dairy-free feta crumbles. For meal prep, keep the dressing separate and add pepitas just before serving to maintain their crunch. This salad is excellent topped with grilled chicken or salmon for extra protein.