Apple Almond Quinoa Salad
Apple Almond Quinoa Salad is a fresh and healthy side dish or snack! It combines quinoa with crunchy almonds, sweet apples, and raisins for the perfect sweet and salty combination! It is great for a holiday side dish, or even as a simple make-ahead breakfast.
Why You’ll Love Apple Almond Quinoa Salad!
This is the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and savory! It is made with the most simple ingredients that I bet you already have in your fridge and pantry. And the best part is that you can get creative and use what you have on hand. Don’t have quinoa? Use rice! Don’t have raisins? Use dried cranberries! Don’t like almonds? Use walnuts! This recipe is so versatile, and you can truly it make it your own.
I have made this as a make ahead breakfast or lunch, or even as s side dish to take to a potluck style gathering! It is also perfect for holiday spreads because it is easy to make ahead and everyone loves it!
Simple Ingredients
- Quinoa – This lends protein to the dish, as well as a great texture paired with crunchy apples.
- Apples – Add crunch and sweetness!
- Chopped or sliced almonds – I prefer sliced almonds because of the softer texture, but you can use chopped as well.
- Unsweetened shredded coconut – Adds a subtle coconut flavor, without extra sugar.
- Raisins – If you are a raisin hater, then you can leave these out! But I love them in this dish.
- Maple Syrup – Use pure maple syrup to sweeten it without refined sugar. The flavor pairs so well with the apples.
- Salt – You always need salt to compliment the sweet!
How To Make This Simple Dish
Step 1
Rinse quinoa in a fine mesh strainer under cold, running water. Combine the quinoa, water, and salt in a medium saucepan and bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, cover with a lid, turn down the heat to low, then simmer until all the liquid has been absorbed and quinoa is tender, about 15-20 minutes. Transfer to a separate bowl and let it cool down to room temperature.
Step 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, chopped apples, almonds, shredded coconut, raisins, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt.
Step 3
Give it all a good mix to evenly combine and serve!
Tips for this recipe!
- I prefer this dish cold, so it is best to store it in the fridge for a couple of hours before eating. You can also eat it immediately after making it if you don’t mind it at room temperature.
- Make sure you rinse the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer with cold water before cooking. This makes for a much better taste and texture after cooking.
- Use your favorite type of apple! If you love green apples for the tartness, then you can do that. I prefer honeycrisp for this!
- Get creative with the add-ins! You can use cranberries instead of raisins, or any type of nut instead of almonds.
Apple Almond Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa (rinsed in cold water)
- 1.5 cups water
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 2 large apples , chopped
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/3 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Rinse quinoa in a fine mesh strainer under cold, running water. Combine the quinoa, water, and salt in a medium saucepan and bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, cover with a lid, turn down the heat to low, then simmer until all the liquid has been absorbed and quinoa is tender, about 15-20 minutes. Transfer to a separate bowl and let it cool down to room temperature.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, chopped apples, almonds, shredded coconut, raisins, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt.
- Give it all a good mix to evenly combine and let it cool in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.
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