Sun-Dried Tomato, Spinach and Quinoa Salad

Name: Sun-Dried Tomato, Spinach and Quinoa Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup quinoa, rinsed in a fine-mesh colander; ⅓ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped; 2 cups roughly chopped fresh spinach or arugula; ⅓ cup sliced almonds; ¼ teaspoon olive oil; Salt, to taste; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; ½ teaspoon salt; Pinch of red pepper flakes; Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Description: This simple spinach quinoa salad is full of fresh Mediterranean flavors, including lemon, sun-dried tomatoes and toasted almonds! It's vegan and gluten free, too, so it's a great potluck option. Recipe yields 4 side servings or 2 main dish-sized servings.

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 15

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa, rinsed in a fine-mesh colander
⅓ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
2 cups roughly chopped fresh spinach or arugula
⅓ cup sliced almonds
¼ teaspoon olive oil
Salt, to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon salt
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

To cook the quinoa: Combine the rinsed quinoa and 2 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then decrease the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook until the quinoa has absorbed all of the water, about 15 minutes, reducing heat as time goes on to maintain a gentle simmer. Remove from heat, cover, and let the quinoa rest for 5 minutes, which gives it time to fluff up.
Meanwhile, to prepare the dressing: Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, salt and red pepper flakes. Season to taste with freshly ground black pepper.
To toast the almonds: Warm ¼ teaspoon olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the almonds and a dash of salt and cook, stirring frequently (beware, these burn quickly!), until they are golden and fragrant. Transfer the toasted almonds to a medium-sized serving bowl to cool.
Once the quinoa is done cooking, fluff it with a fork and then transfer it into your serving bowl. Drizzle all of the dressing on top and toss to combine. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and wait a few more minutes to add the spinach so it doesn’t wilt completely. Toss again, season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if necessary, and serve immediately.