Description
Whip up this quick and healthy 15 Minute Apple Quinoa Salad for a delicious lunch or side dish. Packed with crisp apples, crunchy celery, and protein-rich quinoa, it’s a satisfying meal that’s ready in a flash.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup cooked quinoa (chilled or room temperature)
- 1 medium apple, cored and diced (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala work well)
- ½ cup chopped celery
- ¼ cup chopped red onion
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (toasted, optional but recommended)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1. In a medium bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, diced apple, chopped celery, and chopped red onion.
- 2. Add the chopped walnuts or pecans (if using) and fresh parsley to the bowl.
- 3. In a small separate bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined to create the dressing.
- 4. Pour the dressing over the quinoa and apple mixture.
- 5. Gently toss everything together until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- 6. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more salt, pepper, or a touch more vinegar if desired.
Notes
Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. It is best served chilled directly from the refrigerator. Reheating is generally not recommended as it will greatly diminish the crispness of the apple and celery.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixed
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: Approx. 300-350 calories (depending on nuts and exact quantities)
- Sugar: Approx. 10-15g
- Sodium: Approx. 200-300mg
- Fat: Approx. 15-20g
- Carbohydrates: Approx. 30-40g
- Fiber: Approx. 5-7g
- Protein: Approx. 7-10g