Arugula, Quinoa and Apple Salad

Perfect as a side dish or for a quick lunch, this apple salad provides a good dose of nutrients and protein thanks to the combination of quinoa, feta cheese, and praline pecans. It is finished with a classic tangy vinaigrette made with Dijon mustard and apple cider vinegar, which balances the sweet and savory flavors.

Servings: 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 140 g (5 oz) arugula
• 2 apples (Honeycrisp, Fuji, Pink Lady, Ambrosia), thinly sliced
• ⅓ cup (45 g) feta cheese, crumbled
• 1 cup white quinoa
• ¼ cup (30 g) chopped praline pecans

For the vinaigrette

• 3 tablespoons (45 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) apple cider vinegar
• ½ teaspoon (2,5 ml) Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Cook the quinoa according to the package instructions. Set aside to cool.
2. In a large salad bowl, combine all the vinaigrette ingredients. Whisk well to emulsify.
3. Cut the apple into thin slices or small pieces.
4. Add the arugula, apples, crumbled feta, and quinoa to the bowl with the vinaigrette.
5. Gently toss to coat the arugula, then add the pecans. Serve immediately.

Storage : the apple salad without the vinaigrette can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days, while the salad already mixed with the vinaigrette will keep for 1 day.

Note : you can replace the praline pecans with other roasted nuts, such as walnuts or almonds, or even pumpkin seeds!

For other apple salad recipes :

• Chicken on Spinach, Orzo, and Green Apple Salad
• Maple Tofu, Spinach and Quinoa Salad

Nutritional values per serving: 260 calories | 6 g protein | 28 g carbohydrates | 4 g fiber | 16 g fat

Arugula, Quinoa and Apple Salad is a post from Nautilus Plus. The Nautilus Plus blog aims to help people in their journey to fitness through articles on training, nutrition, motivation, exercise and healthy recipes.
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