Avocado Quinoa Salad with Spinach Dressing

5 from 1 vote

Avocado Quinoa Salad with Spinach Dressing

This green quinoa salad with spinach, cilantro, lime and cucumber is healthy and refreshing. I enjoy it for lunch. It’s also great as a side dish with chicken, fish, shrimp or seared scallops. Feel free to taste and add more lime, cilantro or a little extra olive oil to suit your taste. If you can’t stand cilantro, use flat leaf parsley instead. For even more green, add diced avocado before serving.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 345kcal

Author: Sally Cameron

Ingredients

Avocado Quinoa Salad

1 cup uncooked organic quinoa I use the tri-color
2 cups water
1 cup frozen, thawed organic corn kernels or 2-3 cobs cooked and sliced off
⅓ cup finely diced red onion
1 avocado diced small
2-3 Persian cucumbers

Spinach Dressing

1 large handful washed baby spinach leaves
⅓ cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lime zested, juiced
Salt and pepper
2 large garlic cloves chopped fine
2 handfuls cilantro leaves chopped fine

Instructions

Make the Dressing

Start by making the dressing: Place spinach, water, oil, lime juice and zest, salt, pepper and chopped garlic in a blender and puree into a dressing.

Cook the Quinoa

Place the quinoa in a fine sieve or strainer and run under cold water for a few minutes to rinse off the saponin (bitter outer coating). Shake off excess water and place in a 2 quart saucepan with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, top with a tight fitting lid, and turn the heat as low as it will go. Cook for 18 minutes. When done, move the pan to a cool burner and allow to steam finish for 8-10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and spread out on a rimmed baking sheet to cool. You can also use wax or parchment paper.

Finish the Salad

Quarter cucumbers lengthwise, then chop crosswise into small pieces.
Toss cooled quinoa in a bowl with corn, onion, chopped cilantro and enough of the dressing to coat. You may not use it all. Taste and adjust for what you prefer.

Nutrition