Description
A hearty and nutritious fall quinoa salad featuring roasted vegetables, chickpeas, and a delicious balsamic dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 3 cups butternut squash, diced
- 2 cups Brussels sprouts, halved
- 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water using a fine mesh strainer to remove bitterness.
- Add quinoa and vegetable broth to a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa becomes fluffy.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Spread diced butternut squash and halved Brussels sprouts onto baking sheets.
- Drizzle the vegetables with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper.
- Roast the vegetables until tender and lightly caramelized around the edges.
- Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant and lightly golden.
- In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, garlic, and a small amount of olive oil to create the dressing.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, roasted vegetables, chickpeas, spinach, dried cranberries, and toasted pecans.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until evenly coated.
- Sprinkle feta cheese and fresh parsley over the top before serving.
- Serve warm, chilled, or at room temperature.
Notes
- This salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.
- Feel free to substitute other seasonal vegetables according to your preference.
- For a vegan option, skip the feta cheese or use a plant-based alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Roasting and boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 5mg