• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Wendy Polisi
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Healthy Living
    • Essential Oils
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookies Policy
    • Terms of Service and Conditions
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Lifestyle
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Diet » Gluten Free Recipes

    Citrus Quinoa Salad

    5 from 1 vote
    Posted November 7, 2017 (last updated January 5, 2018) by Wendy Polisi

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly

    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Citrus Quinoa Salad is perfect for your holiday table...or Tuesday night! It is easy to make, delicious and so festive!  Gluten Free & Vegan

    Overhead shot of Citrus Quinoa Salad

    Y'all, this holiday stuff is starting to feel real.

    I haven't started shopping or menu planning just yet, but I have started thinking about it.

    That counts for something, right?

    I am hoping to get started on both this weekend, so be on the lookout for the gift guides I have coming up!

    Horizontal shot of Citrus Quinoa Shot

    In the meantime, let's enjoy some salad.

    This Citrus Quinoa Salad is a little something different for your holiday table...or for any night of the week.

    If you are in a rush, just skip the balsamic walnuts and use regular walnuts. The balsamic walnuts give it a little something special, but this salad is still delicious with regular walnuts.

    Photo os Citrus Quinoa Salad with oranges and limes

    The dressing and walnuts can easily be made ahead, making this salad perfect for simple entertaining.

    Have you started planning for the holidays or shopping yet?  If so, what have you done?

    If You Like This Citrus Quinoa Salad, You May Also Like:

    • Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese & Quinoa
    • Southwestern Quinoa Salad
    • Spinach Quinoa Salad with Feta and Pine Nuts
    • Fiesta Quinoa Salad

    Recommended Tools to Make this Citrus Quinoa Salad:

    • Fine metal strainer (to rinse quinoa)
    • Saucepan (medium)
    • Saucepan (small)
    • Parchment Paper
    • Baking Sheet
    • Zester
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Citrus Quinoa Salad

    This Citrus Quinoa Salad is perfect for your holiday table...or Tuesday night! It is easy to make, delicious and so festive!  Gluten Free & Vegan
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time50 mins
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American, Gluten Free, Healthy, Quinoa
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 415kcal
    Author: Wendy Polisi

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup quinoa rinsed
    • 3 cups watercress washed and torn (or spinach)
    • 1 carrot peeled and shredded
    • ½ cup dried cranberries
    • 1 lime zested
    • 1 orange zested

    Dressing

    • ¼ cup orange juice fresh squeezed
    • 2 tablespoons lime juice fresh squeezed
    • 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar or rice wine vinegar
    • 1 shallot diced
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Balsamic Walnuts

    • 1 cup walnuts
    • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
    • 3 tablespoons maple syrup

    Instructions

    • Combine rinsed quinoa and 1 ½ cups water or broth in a saucepan. Bring to a simmering boil over medium.
    • Reduce to low, cover and cook for 25 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to sit for another 5 minutes. Cool slightly.

    Make Walnuts

    • Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Stir together vinegar and maple syrup in a small saucepan. Heat over medium-low until simmering, about 8 minutes.
    • Remove from heat and toss walnuts in the vinegar mixture.
    • Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 10 minutes.

    Make Salad

    • Combine watercress, carrot, cranberries, and zest in a large bowl. When quinoa is slightly cool toss with watercress mixture.

    Make Dressing

    • Combine orange juice, lime juice, shallot, garlic, agave nectar and vinegar in a small bowl. Add in olive oil in a steady stream. Season with salt and pepper.

    To Serve

    • Toss salad with desired amount of dressing and top with walnuts.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 415kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 214mg | Potassium: 455mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 2310IU | Vitamin C: 30.4mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 2.2mg

    Filed Under:

    Gluten Free RecipesHoliday RecipesQuinoa RecipesSalad RecipesVegan RecipesVegetarian Recipes

    More recipes you may enjoy

    • Square photo of two ramekins with a quinoa egg bake in them.
      Quinoa Egg Bake
    • Square close up photo of a halved slow cooker french dip with a small dish of jus next to it.
      Slow Cooker French Dip
    • Square close up photo of chocolate chip quinoa cookies on burlap.
      Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies - Flourless Vegan Cookies
    • Square photo of a white bowl with tomato quinoa pilaf sitting on a white cloth napkin.
      Tomato Quinoa Pilaf

    About Wendy Polisi

    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 16 & 17 and my late life princess is 9.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Rating




    1. Ashima

      November 10, 2017 at 2:11 pm

      5 stars
      Look at all the bright colours! The flavours look delicious This is like health in a bowl.. I also make quinoa salads often and this is going straight in a salad combination list 🙂

      Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    2. Rachel

      November 12, 2017 at 12:20 pm

      The balsamic walnuts in this salad must be delicious! Will try!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Favorites

    • Close up photo of a spoonful of Spanish Cauliflower Rice resting in a bowl of keto rice.
      25-Minute Spanish Cauliflower Rice
    • Close up photo of a bread machine dinner roll on a cooling rack with other rolls behind it.
      Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
    • Square side photo of gluten free vegetarian lasagna.
      Gluten Free Vegetarian Lasagna
    • Square overhead photo of an aqua bowl with tahini pastas garnished with scallions and sesame seeds.
      Tahini Pasta
    • Square close up photo of a crispy quinoa salad with pomegranate and sweet potato.
      Crispy Quinoa Salad with Pomegranate and Sweet Potato
    • Square close up photo of a thai chicken salad on a white plate.
      Thai Chicken Salad Recipe

    Family, Food and Fun!

    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 16 & 17 and my late life princess is 9.

    More about me →

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Terms of Service
    • About
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.