This strawberry spinach quinoa salad is the perfect refreshing meal during summer. It's super quick and easy to whip up, and beautifully combines a tangy dressing with sweet strawberries and cheesy feta.
I'm one of those weird people who eat soup year-round, even when it's over 100 degrees. However, during the summer I also start to crave fresh meals like crazy. I eat salads almost every day, and so much fruit.
I'm also a fruit-in-salad person, and if you aren't then I am sorry for you. Because this salad I'm about to share with you is made with fresh strawberries, and it's INCREDIBLE.
It's got the leafy greens (aka spinach), both delicious and good for you. Then a nice crunch from the protein-packed quinoa and sliced almonds. Add a tangy lemon Dijon dressing, cheesy feta, and of course the sweet salads, and you've got the perfect summer salad. Balanced taste-wise and nutrition-wise!
Getting Maximum Flavor in a Salad
It's really sad for me to hear people say they hate salads, or they force themselves to eat it because it's healthy. Salads can be literally anything you want them to, and do NOT have to be boring or bland!
For me personally, I don't eat salads because they're healthy. I eat them because they're delicious, refreshing, and satisfying. Here are the ingredients and tips for the most flavorful salads!
Base Salad Ingredients
Almost any salad (but not all!😉) starts with a leafy base. In this case, it's spinach. I love the texture and health benefits, plus how well it goes with strawberries.
If you don't like spinach, I can totally understand that. If you don't mind the taste, you'll probably like it here because of all the flavorful ingredients and dressing that make up a big portion of this salad. However, if you hate it, feel free to substitute arugula or baby lettuce (even kale, if you like it!).
Another important base ingredient in this salad is the quinoa. Quinoa is a very healthy grain packed with protein and fiber. It gives a nice crunch and absorbs the flavor of the dressing.
My favorite tip for getting the most flavor out of quinoa is cooking it in broth. It makes a huge difference and I highly recommend it, but I can understand if you only have water on hand.
Flavorful Add-Ins
Add-ins are my favorite part of any salad! In this particular one, the add-ins are strawberries, almonds, and feta cheese.
Almonds not only give a nice crunch to salads, they also provide protein and healthy fats! You can use sliced, or chopped.
Crumbled feta is such a flavorful cheese and pairs extremely well with the sweet strawberries. If you don't have any, goat cheese is a great substitute!
Then of course, the strawberries! They bring sweetness, a slight tartness, and a bright pop of color!
Dressing
The dressing brings the most flavor, and infuses throughout the entire dish!
It's made from lemon, olive oil, dijon mustard, and honey. Simple, yet so delicious!
I really hope you like this recipe! If you decide to make it, be sure to post a picture and tag me @nutritiousdelights on Instagram--I'd love to see it!
More recipes you might love:
Roasted Vegetable Lemon Quinoa Salad
Healthy Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes
Roasted Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
Strawberry Spinach Quinoa Salad with Lemon Dijon Dressing
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups quartered strawberries
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese can sub goat cheese
- ¾ cup sliced almonds
- 6 oz baby spinach
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 1 ½ tablespoons dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ½ teaspoons salt or more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon pepper or more to taste
Instructions
- Cook quinoa according to package directions, but with the broth instead of water.
- To make the dressing, whisk together all the dressing ingredients except 1 tablespoon of oil. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine all the salad ingredients plus the quinoa and remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Pour the dressing and mix, then sere.
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