Berry Peach Quinoa Salad

Name: Berry Peach Quinoa Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Australian
Ingredients: 1 cup Quinoa; 2 cup Water; 4 Peaches (diced); 250 g Blueberries; 100 g Strawberries (sliced); 4 medium-sized Cucumbers (sliced/cubed); 1 cup Cottage Cheese (Paneer)/Feta (crumbled); 2 tbsp Basil Leaves (chopped); 1 tbsp Mint Leaves (chopped); 0.5 cup Pistachios; 0.5 cup roasted Pinenuts (optional); 3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil; 3 tbsp Dijon Mustard; 3 tbsp Wholegrain Mustard; 8 tbsp Lemon Juice; 3 tbsp Honey; Salt (to taste); Black Pepper (to taste)

by Leena Kohli (@leenakohli)

Prep Time

15min

Cook Time

15min

Total Time

30min

Australian Lunch Appetiser Side Vegetarian Gluten-Free

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

4 Servings

1cup
Quinoa
2cup
Water

For Salad

4
Peaches (diced)
250g
Blueberries
100g
Strawberries (sliced)
4
medium-sized Cucumbers (sliced/cubed)
1cup
Cottage Cheese (Paneer)/Feta (crumbled)
2tbsp
Basil Leaves (chopped)
1tbsp
Mint Leaves (chopped)
1/2cup
Pistachios
1/2cup
roasted Pinenuts (optional)

For Dressing

3tbsp
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3tbsp
Dijon Mustard
3tbsp
Wholegrain Mustard
8tbsp
Lemon Juice
3tbsp
Honey
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.