Cherry Quinoa Salad With Lamb (Printable Version)
Tender lamb, juicy cherries, and fluffy quinoa tossed with fresh herbs and a zesty dressing for a satisfying Mediterranean-inspired meal.
# 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
# How To Make It:
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 liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and allow to cool.
02 - Toss lamb strips with olive oil, ground cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Let marinate while the quinoa cooks to infuse 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. Sear lamb strips for 2 to 3 minutes per side until browned and cooked to desired doneness. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into bite-sized pieces.
05 - Combine cooled quinoa, pitted cherries, spinach or arugula, sliced red onion, crumbled feta, toasted nuts, fresh mint, and parsley in a large serving bowl.
06 - Add sliced lamb to the salad bowl. Pour the dressing over the top and gently toss to evenly distribute all components. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately, optionally garnished with additional herbs and nuts.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The sweet cherries cut through rich lamb like they were made for each other
- Quinoa keeps you satisfied for hours without that heavy post-meal feeling
02 -
- Hot quinoa will wilt the spinach and make the feta melt into a gloppy mess
- Overcooked lamb turns tough and chewy, so pull it from the heat the moment it is done
03 -
- Pat the lamb completely dry before seasoning or the spices will not adhere properly
- Toast your nuts in a dry pan for three minutes to wake up their oils before adding them