Spinach Quinoa Salad is a delicious combination of fresh spinach, nutty quinoa, and savory feta, all brought together with a zesty dressing. The salad is finished with fragrant basil and buttery pine nuts, creating a delightful explosion of flavors in your mouth. This wholesome meal can be prepared in just 10 minutes, making it a perfect choice for a quick and easy lunch or dinner. Follow along as I demonstrate how to create a wholesome dish that tastes as good as it looks.
If you love salads as much as I do, you are probably always on the look out for ways to up your salad game.
Spinach Quinoa Salad with Feta and Pine Nuts offers a simple yet exciting way to switch up your salad routine.
While you may use bottled Balsamic Vinegar Dressing, I prefer to make my own. It only takes five minutes and tastes much better. I usually prepare a jar of dressing during the weekend to keep it handy when things get busy during the week.
(If you decide to use a purchased dressing, choose a good one—this is where a lot of the flavor comes from.)
Either way, I believe you'll enjoy this Spinach Quinoa Salad as much as I do. I have had it countless times, and it never gets old.
Ingredients
- Cooked Quinoa: The base of our salad, quinoa is a gluten-free powerhouse packed with protein and all nine essential amino acids.
- Spinach: Chopping them fine makes it easier for everyone, especially the little ones, to enjoy. Kale or arugula can step in if spinach isn't your green of choice, just remember they bring a bit more bite to the table.
- Feta: Feta adds a delightful contrast to the nutty quinoa and earthy spinach. Goat cheese is a creamy alternative that plays well with the other ingredients if feta isn't in your fridge.
- Red Onion: If raw onion isn't your thing or you're looking to soften the bite, try soaking them in cold water before use or swap in some thinly sliced green onions for a milder option.
- Chopped Fresh Basil: No basil? No problem. Fresh mint or parsley can also bring a lovely freshness to the dish.
- Balsamic Vinegar Dressing: This dressing marries all our ingredients together with its sweet and tangy embrace. Feel free to whip up your own vinaigrette with my recipe, or use a good quality store bought.
- Toasted Pine Nuts: Slivered almonds or chopped walnuts can also work.
Tips & Tricks
- Quinoa Quirks: Rinse your quinoa under cold water before cooking to remove any bitterness. It's covered in a bitter substance called saponin, but a good rinse will remove that.
- Onion Ovation: Soak your chopped red onion in a bowl of cold water for about 10 minutes before adding it to the salad. This softens the sharpness, making the onion flavor milder.
- Basil Brilliance: Always tear your basil leaves by hand instead of chopping them. It's gentler on the basil, releasing its aromatic oils without bruising, ensuring every leaf is a fragrant burst in your salad.
- Dressing Dynamics: When it comes to dressing, think of it as the salad's best friend. The Balsamic Vinegar Dressing should complement, not overwhelm. Start with a light drizzle, toss, then taste. You can always add more, but you can't take it back once it's in there.
- Pine Nut Panache: Toasting pine nuts is key to releasing flavor. A dry pan over medium heat and a constant shake is your path to golden perfection.
More Quinoa Salad Recipes
- Apple Quinoa Salad: Imagine biting into a crisp apple on a bright autumn day – that's the vibe of this refreshing salad. It's a perfect blend of sweet and savory, with crunchy apples and creamy goat cheese that makes every bite a little celebration of flavors.
- Zucchini Quinoa Salad: This one's for those summer days when zucchinis are as abundant as sunshine. It's light, it's zesty, and it's incredibly satisfying, making it an ideal side dish for your next BBQ or a lazy Sunday brunch on the patio.
- Mediterranean Quinoa Salad: Take your taste buds on a trip to the Mediterranean with this flavor-packed salad. With juicy tomatoes, garbanzo beans, artichokes, and a sprinkle of feta cheese, it's like sunshine in a bowl – perfect for those days when you're dreaming of a beach getaway.
- Edamame Quinoa Salad: This salad is a powerhouse of nutrition and flavors, combining the fresh, green goodness of edamame with the hearty texture of quinoa. It's a fantastic way to add a protein punch to your meal that even the pickiest eaters in your family will love.
Spinach Quinoa Salad with Feta and Pine Nuts
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked quinoa
- 10 ounces fresh baby spinach chopped fine
- 6 ounces feta crumbled
- 1 small red onion chopped fine
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- ½ cup Balsamic Vinegar Dressing
- ¼ cup pine nuts toasted
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine quinoa, spinach, feta, red onion and basil. Toss with dressing and top with pine nuts to serve.
Amy
This was so good!
Sev
I used a greek cheese called Manouri, creamier than feta. It was very good. Thanks for sharing !
Sarah
Part of the recipe is covered by ads ):
Wendy Polisi
Thank you for letting me know. I just emailed my ad company to make sure this doesn't happen again.
Monica
Decided to try this, unsure of how good it would be... I was pleasantly surprised, it was sooo good! I switch the pine nuts for almonds and it worked great!
Wendy Polisi
I am so glad that you enjoyed it Monica! I've made this with almonds before too and loved it. I got some bad pine nuts last year and they messed up my taste buds for days so I've been hesitant to use pine nuts as much as I used to.
Rhiannon
How much of the salad can you combine ahead of time? I am making this now and planning to use for work lunches. 🙂
Wendy Polisi
I think it would be fine to do everything but the dressing. Spinach tends to hold up pretty well.
Margaret Hargrove
Do you have any recipes for salad dressings that don't use oils. Oils turn rancid quickly. Thank you for your help.
Wendy Polisi
Are you looking for something that is creamy or something that uses something else as a base (like chia seeds)?
Lisa
This is a really delicious salad. I made your balsamic dressing too. Delish!! Thanks for another great recipe Wendy!
Wendy Polisi
I am so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
Kim
This was outstanding! I could tell by the ingredient list that it would be tasty, but it was probably the best salad I’ve had in years. So fresh tasting and the perfect combination of ingredients and textures. This is absolutely a five-star one, and I will be making it again regularly. Thanks for such a great recipe!