Cherry Quinoa Salad With Lamb (Printable Version)
Protein-rich Mediterranean salad with spiced lamb, fresh cherries, quinoa, and tangy feta in lemon-herb dressing.
# 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 Steps:
01 - Combine rinsed quinoa, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is fully absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Allow to cool while preparing remaining components.
02 - Place lamb strips in a mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, then add ground cumin, coriander, salt, and black pepper. Toss thoroughly to coat evenly. Let marinate at room temperature while quinoa cooks.
03 - Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, honey, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside until assembly.
04 - Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add marinated lamb strips in a single layer. Sear for 2 to 3 minutes per side until browned and cooked through. Remove from pan and let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes.
05 - In a large serving bowl, combine cooled quinoa, pitted cherries, baby spinach or arugula, sliced red onion, crumbled feta, toasted nuts, fresh mint, and parsley.
06 - Slice rested lamb into bite-sized pieces. Add to the salad bowl. Drizzle dressing over entire salad and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with additional herbs and nuts if desired.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- The combination of sweet cherries and savory spiced lamb creates this incredible flavor contrast that keeps every bite interesting
- It comes together faster than you'd think, and you can prep components ahead so assembling feels effortless
02 -
- Hot quinoa will wilt the delicate greens and make the cheese melt into a weird texture, so letting it cool completely is worth the patience
- Overcooked lamb gets tough fast. Pull it from the heat when it's still slightly pink in the center since it'll keep cooking while resting
03 -
- Toasting the nuts in a dry pan for three minutes until fragrant adds this layer of warmth that makes the whole salad taste more considered
- Pitting cherries with a paper clip bent open is easier than using a fancy tool, just push it through and pop the pit out