Ingredients
Salad
- 2½ cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 5 to 6 strawberries (to yield ¾ to 1 cup sliced strawberries), hulled and cut into ¼-inch thick slices
- 1½ ounces chilled goat cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons slivered almonds
Quinoa
- ¼ cup quinoa, rinsed under running water in a fine mesh colander
- ½ cup water
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Lemon dressing
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon honey
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the quinoa: In a small saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa and ½ cup water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 to 17 minutes. Remove the pot from heat, sprinkle in ⅛ teaspoon salt and fluff the quinoa with a fork. Let the quinoa cool, uncovered, for 7 to 8 minutes.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard, honey and a few twists of freshly ground black pepper until emulsified. Set the dressing aside.
- Toast the almonds: In a small pan over medium heat, toast the almonds, stirring often, until they are fragrant and turning golden, about 5 minutes.
- Assemble the salad: In a bowl, combine the chopped spinach, sliced strawberries, warm quinoa and toasted almonds. Crumble goat cheese over the salad. Drizzle in just enough dressing to lightly coat the spinach (I only used about half of the dressing) and toss.
Notes
Make it vegan: Skip the goat cheese.
Make it nut free: Skip the almonds or substitute toasted sunflower seeds.
Storage suggestions: Store dressing separately. Toss the dressing with the rest of the ingredients just before serving.
Change it up: Sliced fresh cherries, peaches or apples would make great substitutions for the strawberries!