Quinoa salad

A cold weather salad that’s great on its own or as a side dish for anything. My ideal dinner food.

Ingredients

160 g dark quinoa 
500 ml water
sea salt to taste
240 g apples, thinly sliced
2 large avocado, peeled, pitted, sliced
60 g walnuts, crumbled into large pieces
80 g soft dates, pitted, sliced

dressing:
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp cashew butter*
1 small clove garlic, peeled, crushed
2 tbsp lemon juice
40 ml extra virgin olive oil, walnut or hazelnut oil

Prepare

Pour the quinoa in a pot, add water and a bit of salt, and simmer until all the water has been absorbed and the quinoa grains have opened. Cover and set aside.

Place all the dressing ingredients in a bowl.

Mix the quinoa with half the apple and the dressing. Place in a serving dish and arrange the avocado, remaining apple, nuts, and dates on top or next to the grains. If desired, you can mix everything together, but the dressing is thick and creamy, so I like to serve it on the side

* You can substitute with almond or peanut butter.

Recipe and pictures: Signe Meirane
Camera: Sony Alpha 7s
From my book CRAZY ABOUT