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STRAWBERRY QUINOA SALAD

Sassy Strawberry Quinoa Salad

Looking for a healthy salad for lunch that is waistline friendly and delicious? Give this super simple salad a try! It has all the macronutrients you need to power you through the afternoon: healthy carbs from the berries and cucumbers; plant protein from the quinoa, chickpeas and pumpkin seeds; and healthy fats from the homemade white balsamic dressing

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil, plus more for chickpeas
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp agave, add more to desired sweetness
  • 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
  • 1 (15oz [425g]) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • ½ tsp garlic powder, optional
  • 4 cups (120g) fresh spinach
  • 4 cups (268g) fresh kale leaves
  • 1½ cups (278g) quinoa, cooked
  • 2 cups (266g) sliced and quartered cucumbers
  • 1 cup (166g) sliced strawberries
  • 2 tbsp (18g) roasted pumpkin seeds

To serve - 4 Salads

  • 1
    To prepare the White Balsamic Vinaigrette, in a small bowl whisk the olive oil, white balsamic vinegar and agave. Set aside.
  • 2
    To make the salad, warm a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and when it is warm, add the chickpeas and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder (if using). Cook, stirring often, for 7 to 10 minutes, until the chickpeas are crisp and golden. Set them aside to cool.
  • 3
    o cool. 3. Add about one quarter of the spinach and kale to each of four salad bowls. Top each bowl with about one quarter of the cooked and cooled quinoa and crispy chickpeas. Add one quarter of the cucumbers, strawberries and pumpkin seeds to each bowl. Drizzle with about 2 tablespoons (30ml) of dressing per salad and toss, and add more dressing to taste. Season with salt and pepper and enjoy.
  • 4
    If packing this for a to-go lunch, store with the dressing on the side until ready to serve.
Reprinted with permission from Healthy Vegan Breakfasts and Lunches by Jillian Glenn. Page Street Publishing Co. 2023. Photo credit Jillian Glenn.

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