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Power Grain Salad

Gastro-PubVegetarianStove-Top

Time: 50 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

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About

The Power Grain Salad is here to help you bulk up, but in a healthy way! It's got muscle-building, super nourishing quinoa, protein-packed cashews, and sweet dried apricots and cherries to keep things exciting (without bringing on the guilt)! A healthy, tasty honey vinaigrette keeps this Power Grain Salad light and exciting, too! Getting into shape or just shedding a few pounds has never been so tasty!

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Ingredients

  • For the honey vinaigrette:
  • 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 small clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • For the quinoa salad:
  • 1 cup water
  • 2/3 cup quinoa
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup cashews, coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 cup dried apricots, sliced in thin slivers
  • 1 cup fresh dark sweet cherries, pitted and halved, or 1 cup red seedless grapes, halved
  • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 small head butter lettuce, torn

Directions

Step 1 -In a small bowl, add the ginger, the honey, the vinegar, the lime juice, and the garlic and whisk to combine.

Step 2 -Slowly stream the olive oil into the ginger mixture, while whisking constantly, until smooth and emulsified.

Step 3 -Season the dressing with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper.

Step 4 -In a medium saucepan, add the water, the quinoa, and the remaining salt and stir to combine.

Step 5 -Place the saucepan on the stovetop and bring the quinoa mixture to a boil.

Step 6 -Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the saucepan.

Step 7 -Simmer the quinoa mixture until the liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes.

Step 8 -Transfer the saucepan from the heat and let it stand for 10 minutes.

Step 9 -Fluff the quinoa with a fork.

Step 10 -In a large bowl, add the quinoa, the cashews, the apricots, the cherries, and the red onions and toss to combine.

Step 11 -Add the lettuce and toss lightly to combine.

Step 12 -Drizzle 1/2 cup of the dressing over the salad and toss again.

Step 13 -Serve with the remaining dressing on the side.

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