Cherry Quinoa Salad With Lamb (Printable)
Succulent spiced lamb meets sweet cherries, nutty quinoa, and fresh herbs in a vibrant dressing for a satisfying meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Lamb
01 - 14 oz lamb loin or leg, trimmed and sliced into strips
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp ground cumin
04 - 1 tsp ground coriander
05 - ½ tsp salt
06 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Quinoa
07 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
08 - 2 cups water
09 - ½ tsp salt
→ Salad Components
10 - 1¼ cups fresh cherries, pitted and halved
11 - 3½ oz baby spinach or arugula
12 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
13 - ⅓ cup feta cheese, crumbled
14 - ¼ cup toasted pistachios or almonds, roughly chopped
15 - 2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
16 - 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
→ Dressing
17 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
18 - 1½ tbsp lemon juice
19 - 1 tsp honey
20 - ½ tsp Dijon mustard
21 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# How To Make It:
01 - Combine rinsed quinoa, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and allow to cool completely.
02 - Toss lamb strips with olive oil, ground cumin, coriander, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Let marinate while quinoa cooks, allowing spices to penetrate the meat.
03 - Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified. Set aside for final assembly.
04 - Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Sear seasoned lamb strips for 2-3 minutes per side until browned and cooked to desired doneness. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into bite-sized pieces.
05 - In a large serving bowl, combine cooled quinoa, pitted cherries, baby spinach or arugula, sliced red onion, crumbled feta, toasted nuts, fresh mint, and parsley.
06 - Add sliced lamb to the salad bowl. Drizzle dressing over the entire mixture and toss gently to distribute evenly. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with additional herbs and nuts if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sweet cherries and savory lamb create this incredible contrast that keeps every bite interesting
- You get protein, greens, and grains all in one bowl without any heavy post-meal sluggishness
02 -
- Warm quinoa will wilt your greens and make the whole salad feel sad and heavy
- Letting the lamb rest after cooking is the difference between juicy and disappointingly dry meat
03 -
- Use a cherry pitter if you make this often or your thumbs will start protesting
- The salad sits beautifully for an hour but the greens will get tired if left longer than that