Description
A refreshing and nutritious salad featuring quinoa, crisp apples, and crispy shallots, dressed in a honey mustard vinaigrette.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large apple, diced (preferably a crisp variety like Honeycrisp or Fuji)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 large shallot, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Start by cooking the quinoa. In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside to cool.
- While the quinoa is cooling, prepare the crispy shallots. Soak the sliced shallots in buttermilk for about 10 minutes. In a separate bowl, place the flour. Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Dredge the soaked shallots in flour, shaking off excess, and fry in batches until golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, diced apple, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, green onions, and parsley. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
- Top the salad with the crispy shallots just before serving to maintain their crunch.
Notes
- For added protein, consider adding grilled chicken or chickpeas to the salad.
- Substitute the apple with pear or add a handful of spinach for extra greens.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing and frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg