Quinoa, Pomegranate and Spinach Salad

Spinach, Quinoa And Pomegranate Salad

Spinach, Quinoa And Pomegranate Salad

 

This quinoa, pomegranate and spinach salad makes a colorful fall side salad or a light meal.

It is fresh, crisp and nutritious. Paired with homemade balsamic vinaigrette, which brings all ingredients together and  makes the salad perfectly delicious! I made it for a quick lunch the other day and just couldn’t stop taking pictures of it. Then of course I had a hard time choosing pictures to post, since it looked colorful and beautiful.

Spinach, Quinoa And Pomegranate Salad

Spinach, Quinoa And Pomegranate Salad

It is really easy to throw together, too. Almost no chopping involved and it can be stored in the fridge in air tight container without the dressing on for 2-3 days.

Pomegranates are in season, I just bought a dozen, because I love them and it is the perfect time to just build a salad around them.

For this salad I used baby spinach, pomegranate, quinoa, apple, onions and blue cheese. Then I felt adding some extra crunch will be nice, so I added a handful of candied pecans I had in my pantry. It worked fine, adding the nuts created a depth of flavor. A simple, but very balanced combination -blue cheese brought creaminess, light sweetness from the pomegranate, crisp apple and some mild red onion flavor. This salad is totally customizable, just feel free to add what you like. Well, you know I love quinoa, so I had to add some. It basically added some protein and made the salad more filling.

Spinach, Quinoa And Pomegranate Salad

Spinach, Quinoa And Pomegranate Salad

The salad is loaded with nutritious ingredients, perfect for the colder time of the year, when we tend to forget the importance of eating more fruits and veggies, to help keep our immune system in a good shape.

This Quinoa, Pomegranate and Spinach salad could be a great choice for your holiday menu, too! Enjoy!

Spinach, Quinoa And Pomegranate Salad

Spinach, Quinoa And Pomegranate Salad

 

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Servings: 1

Quinoa , Pomegranate and Spinach Salad

Prep Time:
10 minutes
Total Time:
10 minutes
This quinoa, pomegranate and spinach salad makes a colorful fall side salad or a light meal.
Spinach, Quinoa And Pomegranate Salad
4.80 from 5 votes
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Ingredients

Salad

  • 4 cups baby spinach rinsed
  • 1/2 apple chopped
  • 1/2 cup cooked quinoa — (see how to cook here)
  • 1/4 chopped red onion
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
  • 2 tbsp crumbled blue cheese
  • optional: a handful of toasted — (or candied) pecans

Dressing:

  • 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp maple syrup — (honey or agave nectar can be substituted)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp Italian seasoning

Instructions

Salad:

  1. In a medium bowl place spinach, then top with quinoa, pomegranate, onions, apple and blue cheese. Add candied (or toasted) pecans (optional).

Dressing:

  1. Whisk all dressing ingredients in a bowl to blend well.
  2. Drizzle dressing over salad and serve.
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American

Nutrition Information

Calories: 912, Fat: 84g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 741mg, Potassium: 633mg, Carbohydrates: 35g, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 18g, Protein: 6g, Vitamin A: 5680%, Vitamin C: 24.2%, Calcium: 113%, Iron: 3.1%

Quinoa-Pomegranate-Spinach-Salad