This salad is for my dearest sister, Heather, who you may remember from our Mocha Smoothies or our Hot Pink Salad with Meyer Lemon Dressing.
We went out as a family (with the parents) to see the fantastic, tear-jerking musical, Miss Saigon, at the Four Seasons Centre (home of the Canadian Opera Company). And of course, because were seeing a musical set in Vietnam, we decided to go for a close South Asian country’s cuisine: Laotian food, here in Toronto at The Queen Mother Cafe.
My Dad’s starter was the quinoa salad: “a high protein gluten free grain tossed with garlic, lemon, fresh herbs, chickpeas and olive oil, topped with crumbled goat cheese, nestled on baby greens”. We all ended up eating my Dad’s quinoa salad, and loved it so much that I had to try my version at home.
Mmmm, quinoa. With the cooked quinoa I had on hand, it was super-easy and super-fast to whip up this quinoa salad. Likewise, if you’re making fresh quinoa for salad, you can always make extra to use for other quinoa dishes later in the week!
Red Quinoa Salad with Lemony Goat’s Cheese
Inspired by the Queen Mother Cafe’s Quinoa Salad, Serves 4
- 2 c. cooked red quinoa
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 yellow pepper, chopped
- 1 big handful cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 big handful sprouts (I used a blend of sprouted lentils & beans from the farmers’ market)
- 1 Tbsp. walnut oil
- 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1-2 oz. lemony goat’s cheese (plain goat’s cheese would be lovely here too, or you can mix goat cheese with lemon zest for your own lemony goat’s cheese)
In a large bowl, combine quinoa and veggies.
In a separate, small bowl, emulsify oil, mustard & vinegar to make a dressing.
Just before serving, toss salad with dressing, and crumble goat’s cheese over top.
Eat and enjoy!
Thrilled to again be a part of Amy’s Slightly Indulgent Tuesday. Go check out the yummy recipes!
Oh this sounds soooooo yummy! I adore quinoa. My husband loves goat cheese anything so I will have to give this a try. We’re off to TO today. Going to LIVE for dinner. I’m excited! Thanks!
Mmmm, LIVE will be great — enjoy it!!!
Mmmm, that looks and sounds delish! I must confess, I’ve often meant to try quinoa, but never have! I must pick some up. I’m always looking to branch out from my handful(s) of standard recipes.
Caitlin — it seems to me like kale people are also quinoa people 🙂
Give it a go!
I looove quinoa!