Superfood Quinoa Salad Recipe with Blueberries and Cacao Nibs
This quinoa salad recipe has almonds, cacao nibs and a blueberry vinaigrette. It's an easy, gluten free and vegan meal that's packed with superfoods for only 360 calories!
Servings 2 servings
Ingredients
- 2/3 Cup Water
- 1/3 Cup Quinoa
For the vinaigrette:
- 1/2 Cup Fresh blueberries
- 1 Tbsp Raw Apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Fresh lemon juice
- 2 tsp Agave
- 1/2 tsp Lemon zest packed
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- Pinch of pepper
- 1 Tbsp Extra-Virgin Olive oil
For the salad:
- 6 Cups Spring mix salad blend
- 2/3 Cup Fresh blueberries
- 1/4 Cup Toasted almonds roughly chopped *
- 2 Tbsp Cacao nibs
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a medium pot. Stir in the quinoa, reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook until the quinoa is fluffy and has absorbed the water, about 20-25 minutes.
- While the quinoa cooks, combine the blueberries, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, agave, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a SMALL food processor (mine is 3 cups) and blend until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary.
- With the food processor running, stream in the olive oil and blend until combined and the dressing thickens. You should have about 1/2 cup of dressing. Pour into a small bowl to stand while you make the salad.
- In a large bowl, combine the spring mix, remaining blueberries, almonds, cocoa nibs, tossing to combine. Pour in the blueberry vinaigrette** and toss until the spinach is evenly coated. Finally, add in the cooked quinoa and toss until the quinoa is evenly dispersed and coated in the dressing.
- DEVOUR immediately! ***
Notes
*I buy my nuts pre-toasted, but you can toast them in a 400 degree oven until lightly golden brown. This only takes a few minutes, so watch them closely.
**While the dressing stands, it sometimes thickens a lot. If this happens, whisk it really well before adding to the salad. Once whisked, it should stay quite smooth
***Salad is best served immediately as it does dry out if your refrigerate it, due to the fruit in the dressing.
**While the dressing stands, it sometimes thickens a lot. If this happens, whisk it really well before adding to the salad. Once whisked, it should stay quite smooth
***Salad is best served immediately as it does dry out if your refrigerate it, due to the fruit in the dressing.