It’s the dead of winter, I know, but berries have been on my mind. Grains and berries. Grains and berries together with fun salad friends. Grains and berries and friends finished with a lightly sweet dressing. Doesn’t that sound lovely? In fact it is. Berry Quinoa Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing wins in the category of ‘loveliest salad of them all’ at the breakfast table.
Wait, breakfast?! But of course it wins; there’s no competition. That’s cuz FOLKS DON’T EAT SALAD FOR BREAKFAST, DO THEY? When was the last time you saw a breakfast buffet with a salad bar? 😉 But, seriously, boosting your breakfast with all the good stuff in Berry Quinoa Salad is a fantastically tasty way to kick off your day on the right foot.
You can eat Berry Quinoa Salad any time of day…
…not just for breakfast! But, seriously, can you imagine waking up to something this beautiful?
A simply gorgeous dish no matter the hour. Have it for lunch! Or, bring it to your next pot luck with friends. (Not that it’s a competition, but you’ll totally win.) And if you want to win dinnertime, too, serve up Berry Quinoa Salad with Indian grilled chicken or barbecue rubbed salmon for an easy-peasy, balanced meal that’s ready in under 30 minutes. BOOM.
And it tastes out of this world. The berries burst in your mouth, and mingle with the lemon and honey, while the almonds and quinoa add crunch and texture. The spinach, I’ll be honest, is just there for color. (I love you spinach, but this just isn’t about you.) As a side dish, it’s surprisingly simple and diverse (you’re hitting like 5 food groups!), and it just screams, “I’M SO GOOD FOR YOU!”
Where’d this craving for grains and berries come from?
I think I’ve been seeking something a little different at breakfast. Different how? Like, different from the monkey bread and gingerbread and mashed potato bread (by which I mean donuts, specifically the deliciosity that is Maine-made mashed potato donuts by The Holy Donut).
December brought a neverending parade of seasonal treats, and I enjoyed it all. But now it’s time for fiber and antioxidants and immune-boosting vitamin C. And for the love of all that is wholesome, can we get a green vegetable over here, please?
Here you go. And check out the nutrition highlights!
→It’s naturally sweet and low in added sugar (just 1 tsp)
→Delivers decently on protein (about 4 g per serving)
→Provides a good dose of fiber (about 5 g per serving)
And the best part? It takes just 15 minutes to put together. Thanks to very convenient heat-and-serve quinoa, which required just 90 seconds in the microwave, I was whisking the dressing while the washed berries were draining, and – suddenly – it was done!
I feel so accomplished. 2020 and this new decade are starting off quite well, don’t ya think?
Berry Quinoa Salad with Lemon Honey Dressing
Give any meal a boost with this easy Berry Quinoa Salad with Lemon Honey Dressing. Ready in just 15 minutes, and a gorgeous side dish, too!
Ingredients
- 2 cups prepared quinoa cooled
- 3 cups mixed fresh berries blackberries, raspberries, blueberries
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1/3 cup fresh goat cheese crumbled
- 1/3 cup almonds crushed or slivered
Lemon Honey Dressing
- Juice of one lemon about 4 tablespoons
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- generous pinch of salt
Instructions
-
If using ready-to-cook quinoa, follow package directions, then set aside to cool.
-
Rinse and drain berries, and set aside. Rough chop the spinach.
-
Combine, quinoa, berries, spinach, goat cheese and almonds in bowl.
-
Whisk the dressing ingredients together (lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt). Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and gently combine.
-
Store the salad in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Recipe Notes
*This salad is especially easy with ready-to-cook quinoa, like the Nature’s Promise brand shown in step 1 above
*Any combination of your favorite fresh berries works well here – strawberries, cherries, etc. Just 3 cups total.
Leave a Reply