Stay Connected with Fine Cooking
  • Facebook
  • Path
  • Twitter
previous
  • Cheesecake Recipe: Create Your Own
    Cheesecake Recipe: Create Your Own
  • Top 10 Passover Recipes
    Top 10 Passover Recipes
  • Irish Soda Bread
    Irish Soda Bread
  • How to Make Chocolate Soufflés
    How to Make Chocolate Soufflés
  • Fresh Winter Salad Recipes
    Fresh Winter Salad Recipes
  • Hearty Chili Recipes
    Hearty Chili Recipes
  • Top Brownie Recipes
    Top Brownie Recipes
  • Make it Green for St. Patrick´s Day
    Make it Green for St. Patrick´s Day
  • Our Favorite Ingredients for Quick Dinners
    Our Favorite Ingredients for Quick Dinners
  • Ultimate Macaroni & Cheese Recipes
    Ultimate Macaroni & Cheese Recipes
  • Ingenious Kitchen Tips
    Ingenious Kitchen Tips
  • The Science of Cooktops
    The Science of Cooktops
  • Video : Seed a Pomegranate Without the Mess
    Video : Seed a Pomegranate Without the Mess
  • Quick Shellfish Dinner Ideas
    Quick Shellfish Dinner Ideas
  • Gluten-Free Baked Treats
    Gluten-Free Baked Treats
next
Quinoa and Avocado Salad with Dried Fruit Toasted Almonds and Lemon-Cumin Vinaigrette Recipe

Quinoa and Avocado Salad with Dried Fruit, Toasted Almonds, and Lemon-Cumin Vinaigrette

Besides its attractive maroon color, red quinoa has a slightly deeper, nuttier flavor than white quinoa. Both, however, are excellent in this bright, lemony salad. Serves 4. Yields 5 cups.

3 Tbs. raisins (preferably a mix of dark and golden)
2 Tbs. dried apricots, thinly sliced
1 cup red or white quinoa, rinsed well
Kosher salt
1 large lemon
3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp. ground coriander
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. sweet paprika
2 medium firm-ripe avocados (6 to 7 oz. each), pitted, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 medium scallions, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
2 to 3 Tbs. coarsely chopped toasted almonds
Freshly ground black pepper

In a medium bowl, soak the raisins and apricots in hot water for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.

In a 2-quart saucepan, bring 2 cups water, the quinoa, and 1/2 tsp. salt to a boil over high heat. Cover, reduce the heat to medium low, and simmer until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is translucent and tender, 10 to 15 minutes. (The outer germ rings of the grain will remain chewy and white. Some germ rings may separate from the grain and will look like white squiggles.) Immediately fluff the quinoa with a fork and turn it out onto a baking sheet to cool to room temperature.

Finely grate the zest from the lemon and then squeeze 1 Tbs. juice. In a small bowl, whisk the lemon zest and juice with the olive oil, coriander, cumin, paprika, and 1/4 tsp. salt. In a large bowl, toss the vinaigrette with the quinoa, raisins, apricots, avocado, scallions, and almonds. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

nutrition information (per serving):
Calories (kcal): 460; Fat (g): 29; Fat Calories (kcal): 260; Saturated Fat (g): 4; Protein (g): 9; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 19; Carbohydrates (g): 46; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 4.5; Sodium (mg): 220; Cholesterol (mg): 0; Fiber (g): 11;
photo: Scott Phillips
From Fine Cooking 103 , pp. 47
December 30, 2009


user reviews

Star Star Star Star Star This was fantastic! I toasted the quinoa and used mango instead of apricots and this was just delicious.
Star Star Star Star Star This is a delicious recipe. Agree with other reviewer that more vinaigrette would be better. Also doubled the dried fruits - apricots, cranberries and Montmorency cherries. Used roasted sunflower seeds because I didn't want to take the time to roast almonds. I also found that cooking the quinoa in the rice cooker is really easy. And, since I was going to eat it over a few days - added the avocado just before eating.
Star Star Star Star Star I wish I had read the reviews before I made the salad. It definitely needs more fruit and dressing. Next time, I'll probably use pine nuts instead. We really like the flavor - it just needs more of it.
Star Star Star Star Star This is a perfect combination for a summer meal. Similar to other reviewers, I also added more fruit including dried cranberries. The dressing is just barely enough for the one cup of quinoa called for by the recipe. It works but don't use extra quinoa. The other good thing about this recipe is that it comes together quickly and does not require a lot of prep work. Excellent all around!
Star Star Star Star Star Oh my, this salad is perfection! It is now officially my favorite quinoa recipe. The harmony of flavors and textures is to die for!
Star Star Star Star Star I really enjoyed this recipe. I used Avocado, Edamame and Goldenberries in my version. This is a great way to have quinoa!
Star Star Star Star Star We LOVE this salad. I used chopped dates instead of raisins and did not soak the dates or apricots as we prefer a chewier texture. We found there was not enough dressing, even when putting it on at the last minute, so I double or triple the quantity. We put the almonds on just before serving so they stayed crunchy. The avocado survived quite well for leftovers the next day.
Star Star Star Star Star Fantastic! I omit the dried fruits because I don't care for them. Without them, this makes a wonderful, zesty quinoa salad. I can't get enough of it.
Star Star Star Star Star Delicious, however I prefer to substitute dried cranberries for raisins. I made it a lot of times already.
Star Star Star Star Star Incredibly easy to make. I had some leftover quinoa and this was the perfect way to enjoy it. I have to say it all of the flavors made for an incredible party of tastes and textures. Next time, I'll add more dried fruit and almonds and maybe a bit more lemon zest.
Star Star Star Star Star This is tasty and easy to make. I agree with a reviewer who suggested adding more fruit, nuts and scallions.
Star Star Star Star Star Love this and use the dressing for other quinoa based salads, too. For a guacamole version, substitute fresh mango for the dried fruit, cilantro for the parsley, and a little bit of jalepeno in the dressing. I agree with the other users about cooking the quinoa. I've had better luck with 1:1 water to quinoa ratio, and simmering for 8 minutes.
Star Star Star Star Star We enjoyed this recipe. I had no avocado but did have corn and black beans that needed to be used and they were a great addition. I may add a little more lemon juice next time I make it. A definite make again recipe.
Star Star Star Star Star Great recipe. Takes minutes and is sooooo delicious. More grain recipes please!
Star Star Star Star Star This salad is a huge hit every time I make it! And the leftovers are great for days!
Star Star Star Star Star SUCH a delicious recipe. I cannot get enough! Nutty, bright, healthy, satisfying. I've made it twice and find the amount of water called for to be a bit on the high side (doesn't absorb in 15 min) - cut it back a bit and you're golden. The rest of the recipe is quite perfect as written. Oh, and I'm nut-free so replaced the almonds with toasted sunflower seeds.
Star Star Star Star Star A nice salad, but I would recommend doubling, at least, the fruit, nuts and scallions.
Star Star Star Star Star Yumma! I did deviate away slightly as I cooked the quinoa in in chicken broth and added dried porcini mushrooms. I'd omitted the apricot as I didn't have any on hand. The avocado went on top of each serving rather than mixing it into the whole batch (I wasn't sure how well the avocado would survive as a left over.) This batch is too huge for just two people but we're looking forward to having it again this week. Great with fish and lemon ginger veg stir fry.
Star Star Star Star Star Incredibly delicious! We made this for a group dinner and everyone loved it. Awesome recipe.
Star Star Star Star Star Tasty! A very light dish, great for a spring or summer evening.
Star Star Star Star Star This was my first try at quinoa - and we loved it. The vinaigrette is to DIE FOR! I can see using it on many other salads, vegetables, etc. Will definitely do again.
Star Star Star Star Star Very tasty! I used mostly white quinoa, regular raisins instead of golden raisins, and substituted sunflower seeds for the almonds (nut allergy.) I also used the juice of the entire lemon.
Star Star Star Star Star It was really tasty. I made extra dressing.
Star Star Star Star Star Quick, easy and very tasty. The second time I made it I cut back on the olive oil a bit and added a bit more lemon juice because we like tangy dressings. Have also put cucumbers in it when my avocado just wasn't ripening fast enough which was really good too. A really nice side dish with salmon.
Star Star Star Star Star Delicious, easy and healthy. The dressing absorbs into the quinoa fast so I recommend dressing it at the last possible second and serving it with extra dressing on the side.
Star Star Star Star Star Everyone loved this salad, even those in the family who usually don't like avocado and don't like quinoa (or think they don't.)
Star Star Star Star Star This recipe was fantastic - very light and fresh. I made it with barley and clementines since I had them on hand but can't wait to try it with the quinoa and dried fruit. This salad will definitely be a summertime picnicking staple in our house.