Cherry Quinoa Salad With Lamb (Printable)
Protein-rich Mediterranean salad with spiced lamb, sweet cherries, and fluffy quinoa in herb dressing.
# What You 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
# Steps:
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 water is fully absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and allow to cool completely.
02 - Toss lamb strips with olive oil, ground cumin, ground coriander, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Let marinate at room temperature while quinoa cooks to absorb spices.
03 - Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified and smooth.
04 - Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook marinated lamb strips for 2–3 minutes per side until browned and cooked to desired doneness. Transfer to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
05 - Combine cooled quinoa, fresh cherries, spinach or arugula, sliced red onion, crumbled feta, toasted pistachios, chopped mint, and parsley in a large mixing bowl.
06 - Slice rested lamb into bite-sized pieces. Add to the salad mixture and toss gently to distribute evenly.
07 - Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with extra herbs and nuts if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sweet cherries against savory lamb creates this incredible flavor dance that wakes up your whole palate
- Everything can be prepped ahead, making it perfect for those evenings when you want something impressive but effortless
02 -
- Hot quinoa will wilt the delicate greens and make the feta weep into a puddle, so patience during cooling really pays off
- Overcooked lamb turns rubbery and sad, so pull it from the heat the moment it reaches your desired doneness
03 -
- Invest in a cherry pitter if you make this often, your thumbs will thank you after the first few handfuls
- The dressing can be made 3 days ahead and kept in a sealed jar, just give it a vigorous shake before using