Strawberry Avocado Quinoa Salad (Print Version)

A flavorful blend of strawberries, avocado, and quinoa tossed with crunchy nuts and bright citrus dressing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, uncooked
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Fruits & Vegetables

04 - 1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
05 - 1 large avocado, diced
06 - 1 cup baby spinach or mixed greens
07 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

→ Nuts & Seeds

09 - 1/4 cup sliced almonds or pecans, toasted

→ Cheese (optional)

10 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

→ Dressing

11 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
13 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
14 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How-To:

01 - Rinse quinoa thoroughly in a fine mesh strainer under cold running water.
02 - Combine quinoa, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12–15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat, let rest covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and allow to cool.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until the mixture is emulsified.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled quinoa, strawberries, avocado, spinach or mixed greens, red onion, basil, and toasted almonds or pecans.
05 - Drizzle the prepared dressing evenly over the salad mixture. Gently toss to combine all ingredients.
06 - Top with crumbled feta cheese if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Sneak this salad into any meal when you crave something fresh, and everyone asks for seconds.
  • It's easy to make ahead and travels well for picnics or lunch breaks.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the quinoa or you'll end up with wilted greens and mushy avocado.
  • I learned the nuts taste so much better if toasted right before tossing them in.
03 -
  • Let the quinoa cool fully before mixing or your greens will wilt.
  • A dash of lemon zest in the dressing adds fragrant complexity.
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