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    Home » Recipes » Vegetarian » Trail Mix Spinach Salad with Quinoa & Cheese

    Trail Mix Spinach Salad with Quinoa & Cheese

    Updated: Jul 21, 2023 by Veronica Noone · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    trail mix spinach salad pin

    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!

    Disclosure: I've partnered with The Laughing Cow. Click here for more info and click here to see all my ideas using the Laughing Cow!

    📖 Recipe

    trail mix spinach salad featured

    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
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    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
      

    • 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
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    1. Lynda

      December 03, 2012 at 3:26 pm

      This salad looks so yummy...I love how you come up with a meal just based on what you have on hand and it all works. I enjoy your videos also...great website:)

      Reply
    2. roni

      December 01, 2012 at 9:37 am

      OMG lol Thanks for the heads up. I read that post at least 5 times, never caught it never would have. I'm such a bad editor!

      Trader Joe's will defintily have quinoa. That's where I first found it too.

      Good luck!

      Reply
    3. Raimee

      December 01, 2012 at 5:16 am

      This sounds fabulous!!!! Just beginning to cook with quinoa in our home and having a tough time finding it in the stores. Heading to the new Trader Joes next week... Fingers crossed!!
      Love your posts and your sense of humor 😉 that being said LOL check out where you found the quinoa.... (Panty..... Instead of pantry 😉 ) I'm trying not laugh loudly as I am up feeding my four month old LOL that is so something I would do!!!
      Have a great day!

      Reply

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