Trail Mix Spinach Salad with Quinoa & Cheese

Sometimes my food ideas come from strange places and motivations.

Yesterday I realized I needed to post one more Laughing Cow idea this month. So I wanted to come up a with a fun cheese inspired lunch. Then I opened the pantry and saw the quinoa. I don't know why I don't use it more, it's SO good! My brain starts churning…

Why not cook some up, and toss with a cube of cheese. Oh! I know I'll add in some dried cranberries. They go so good with Mini Babybel Light. Oh poo! Only a few dried cranberries left. Hmmm I can add a couple of raisins to make up the difference. You know what goes good with cheese and raisins? Sunflower seeds. Hey this is starting to sound like trail mix. Why don't I add in some almonds. Oh look at that! I have dried apricots!

Before I knew it I was eating this…

And it was out of this world good!

Every bite was like a little surprise. Sometimes a creamy cube of cheese, sometimes a sweet raisin, sometimes both! The texture of quinoa coated spinach leaves with my simple dressing was great by itself but the variety of textures and flavors was a fun twist.

Here's what I did.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup uncooked quinoa (43g)
• 4oz of chicken broth (water would be fine)
• 2 cups of raw spinach (85g)
• 10g of dried cranberries
• 1 Mini Babybel Light cut into cubes
• 10g of Raisins
• 15g of Sunflower Seeds
• 2 apricots chopped
• 5 almonds chopped
• 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• ½ tablespoon honey
• pinch of salt

Instructions

Put the quinoa and broth in a small pot over high heat. Bring to a boil, then cover and lower to a simmer.

While that's cooking prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Place the spinach, vinegars, honey and pinch of salt in a bowl. Once all the broth is absorbed by the quinoa, add it to the bowl of spinach and toss. The leaves will wilt a little and everything will be coated in the dressing.

Add the dried fruit, seeds and nuts.

Toss everything together and enjoy!

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📖 Recipe

Trail Mix Spinach Salad with Quinoa & Cheese

This delicious trail mix spinach salad with quinoa and cheese will satisfy your hunger and your taste buds! Try it today for a healthy and flavorful meal.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 3 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 minutes mins

Total Time 7 minutes mins

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Servings 1 people

Calories 520 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ¼ cup uncooked quinoa 43g
• 4 oz of chicken broth water would be fine
• 2 cups of raw spinach 85g
• 10 g of dried cranberries
• 1 Mini Babybel Light cut into cubes
• 10 g of Raisins
• 15 g of Sunflower Seeds
• 2 apricots chopped
• 5 almonds chopped
• 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• ½ tablespoon honey
• pinch of salt

Instructions

 

• Put the quinoa and broth in a small pot over high heat. Bring to a boil, then cover and lower to a simmer.
  ¼ cup uncooked quinoa, 4 oz of chicken broth
• While that's cooking prepare the rest of the ingredients.
• Place the spinach, vinegars, honey and pinch of salt in a bowl. Once all the broth is absorbed by the quinoa, add it to the bowl of spinach and toss. The leaves will wilt a little and everything will be coated in the dressing.
  2 cups of raw spinach, 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, ½ tablespoon honey, pinch of salt, 2 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• Add the dried fruit, seeds and nuts.
  10 g of dried cranberries, 10 g of Raisins, 15 g of Sunflower Seeds, 2 apricots chopped, 5 almonds chopped, 1 Mini Babybel Light cut into cubes
• Toss everything together and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 21gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 673mgPotassium: 1039mgFiber: 9gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 7297IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 336mgIron: 5mg

Keyword beet salad, cheese, Quinoa, Spinach

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