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–+ servings
Fall Quinoa Salad

Delicious Fall Quinoa Salad with Apples, Pears, and Pecans

This vibrant Fall Quinoa Salad combines fresh apples, pears, and pecans for a delicious seasonal dish.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 220

Ingredients
  

Base
  • 1.5 cups cooked quinoa
Fruits
  • 1 large Honeycrisp apple, chopped
  • 1 large Granny Smith apple, chopped
  • 1 large Bartlett pear, chopped
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
  • 1/3 cup pomegranate arils
  • 1/3 cup celery, finely chopped
  • 1-2 pieces green onions (light green parts), sliced
Nuts
  • 1/3 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
Dressing
  • 3.5 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1.5 teaspoons orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice
  • 2.5 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 2/3 cup light olive oil
  • to taste salt
  • to taste freshly ground black pepper

Equipment

  • fine mesh sieve
  • medium saucepan
  • large bowl
  • whisk
  • jar or container for dressing

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Rinse quinoa under cold water using a fine mesh sieve to remove bitterness.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed quinoa with water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 15–18 minutes until tender.
  3. Allow cooked quinoa to rest for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork and cool.
Combine Ingredients
  1. In a large bowl, combine chopped apples, pear, dried cranberries, pomegranate arils, celery, pecans, and green onions.
  2. In a separate bowl or jar, whisk together apple cider vinegar, orange zest, orange juice, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, olive oil, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
  3. Add cooled quinoa to the fruit mixture and gently toss with the dressing until everything is well coated.
  4. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 6gFat: 10g

Notes

Feel free to customize this salad with other fruits or nuts as per your preference. Enjoy it chilled or at room temperature.

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