Berry Peach Quinoa Salad is a perfect blend of sweet and savoury flavours.
With its combination of juicy fruits, cottage cheese and nutty quinoa, this salad is a great way to incorporate healthy ingredients into your diet while still enjoying a tasty and filling meal.
Ingredients
- 1cupQuinoa
- 2cupWater
For Salad
- 4Peaches (diced)
- 250gBlueberries
- 100gStrawberries (sliced)
- 4medium-sized Cucumbers (sliced/cubed)
- 1cupCottage Cheese (Paneer)/Feta (crumbled)
- 2tbspBasil Leaves (chopped)
- 1tbspMint Leaves (chopped)
- 1/2cupPistachios
- 1/2cuproasted Pinenuts (optional)
For Dressing
- 3tbspExtra Virgin Olive Oil
- 3tbspDijon Mustard
- 3tbspWholegrain Mustard
- 8tbspLemon Juice
- 3tbspHoney
- Salt (to taste)
- Black Pepper (to taste)
How to make Berry Peach Quinoa Salad
Rinse the quinoa under cold water. In a medium-sized saucepan, combine 2 cups of water and quinoa. Bring it to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and let it cool.
Prepare Dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, wholegrain mustard, lemon juice, and honey to make the dressing.
Assemble Salad
In a large salad bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, cucumbers, cottage cheese, basil, mint, pistachio and roasted pinenuts, if using.
Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently toss everything until well combined. Let the salad sit for a few minutes to allow the flavours to meld. If desired, refrigerate the salad for a refreshing chilled twist.
Before serving, adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if necessary.
Garnish with additional mint and basil leaves if desired.
Serve the Berry Peach Quinoa Salad, as a refreshing and nutritious side dish or a light main course.
Enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
Adjust the quantities in the dressing to achieve your preferred balance of sweetness and tanginess.
Allow the salad to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to enhance the flavours.
Feel free to add other fruits, nuts, or seeds for additional texture and nutrition.
You can substitute cottage cheese with feta cheese for a different flavour.
Use fresh basil and mint for a burst of aromatic freshness.
You can prepare the quinoa and dressing in advance and assemble the salad just before serving to save time.
This recipe yields 4-5 servings, depending on portion size.
Leena Kohli
(@leenakohli)
Elevate your confidence through the magic of home cooking with my easy-to-follow recipes π©βπ³β¨