Spinach-Quinoa Salad With Cherries and Almonds

Annisette's Note:

Haven't tried this yet, but it looks delicious. Can also use either couscous or bulgur, if you like. Cooking time includes chilling the completed salad in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop. From VT July/Aug 2006

• Total Time: 1 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 3 cups water, salted (to cook quinoa)
• 1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups spinach leaves
• 2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and halved or 1 cup dried cherries, chopped
• 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped into 1/2 inch dice (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
• 1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tsp)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Spread almonds on baking sheet, and toast 7-10 minutes, shaking pan occasionally, until golden brown. Cool.
3. Bring 3 cups salted water to boil in pot over med-high heat. Stir in quinoa. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer, covered, 15 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed.
4. Remove pot from heat and allow to cool, covered.
5. Lay 5 or 6 spinach leaves on top of one another on a cutting board. Roll tightly into a cylinder. Slice into slivers. Repeat with remaining spinach.
6. In large serving bowl, toss together quinoa, almonds, spinach, cherries, cucumber, chickpeas, and red onion.
7. In small bowl, whisk together yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. Pour yogurt mixture over salad, and toss to coat.
8. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
9. Chill the salad for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
10. Serve.

Reviews

[cjcmom]

I really liked this salad and will use the dressing for other salads. We could not get fresh cherries this month, but the dry cherries worked very well.

[JanuaryBride]

I really liked this! I subbed out some chives for the onion and left out the garlic. In the end, I added 1 little packet of stevia and WOW did that really bring it all together! Thanks for a fun salad!

[Nikoma]

The salad itself i liked but the dressing in my opinion would have killed it. Luckily i tested it before adding. I thought this came out quite well just mixed with the yogurt and lemon juice.