Healthy Crunchy Quinoa Salad (with Pistachios)
User Reviews
5
Healthy Crunchy Quinoa Salad (with Pistachios)
Description
Healthy Crunchy Quinoa Salad (with Pistachios) brings together cooked quinoa cooled and tossed with toasted pistachios, chopped dried cherries, crumbled feta cheese, and fresh chopped basil. The pistachios are toasted separately to bring out their flavor and crunch before being roughly chopped and folded into the salad. The fresh basil adds herbal brightness, while the feta contributes a creamy, tangy element.
The salad is dressed with a kefir-based dressing that blends kefir, honey, and balsamic vinegar. The honey is gently melted into kefir to ensure smooth integration before adding balsamic vinegar to lend acidity and depth. This dressing offers a balanced creamy and tangy profile that complements the nutty quinoa and sweet dried cherries.
Preparation steps include cooking quinoa until the water is absorbed, chilling it before assembling, and toasting pistachios in an oven until golden. This salad works well as a nutritious side dish or a light main course, ideal for warm weather or as a make-ahead item. The combination of ingredients provides a range of textures from crunchy to creamy and juicy.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup quinoa uncooked
- 1/3 cup pistachio shelled
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup dried cherries roughly chopped, reduced-sugar
- 1 cup feta cheese crumbled, reduced-fat
- 6 tablespoons basil chopped, fresh
For the Dressing:
- 1/2 cup Kefir plain
- 4 teaspoons honey
- 4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a large pot. Once boiling, stir in the quinoa. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook until the moisture is absorbed (about 15 minutes). Once cooked, transfer the quinoa to a large bowl and place it into the refrigerator.
- While the quinoa cooks, preheat your oven to 400°F and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper. Toast the pistachios in the oven until lightly golden brown, about 10-12 minutes. Set aside.
- Once the quinoa has cooled, stir in the salt, chopped cherries, crumbled feta cheese, and chopped basil.
- Roughly chop the toasted pistachios and add them to the salad. Stir until everything is well mixed.
- To make the dressing, stir the kefir and honey together in a medium, microwave- safe bowl. Microwave the mixture until the honey is melted and easily mixes into the kefir, about 30 seconds.
- Stir in the balsamic vinegar.
- Pour the dressing over the salad, mix well, and devour!
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4to 8
Amount Per Serving
Calories 354 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 354kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 55g | 18% |
| Protein | 17g | 34% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 24mg | 8% |
| Sodium | 654mg | 27% |
| Potassium | 254mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 21g | 42% |
| Vitamin A | 954IU | 19% |
| Vitamin C | 0.3mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 86mg | 9% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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